Computed tomographic assessment of bronchoesophageal artery hypertrophy and systemic‐to‐pulmonary shunt mimicking a persistent ductus arteriosus in a French Bulldog

Abstract

A 5‐year‐old, female French bulldog was evaluated for left‐sided congestive heart failure. A diagnosis of bronchoesophageal artery hypertrophy with systemic‐to‐pulmonary shunt was made. Even though Doppler echocardiographic findings were in favour of a left‐to‐right shunting patent ductus arteriosus, the exploratory thoracotomy highlighted a more complex vascular anomaly. An angiographic computed tomography study allowed to establish the final diagnosis. Bronchial‐to‐pulmonary artery shunts can mimic the presence of a patent ductus arteriosus, therefore computed tomography is considered a valuable additional tool for diagnosis and surgical planning.