Double-outlet right ventricle with an intact interventricular septum and concurrent hypoplastic left ventricle in a calf

Double-Outlet Right Ventricle in a Chianina Calf

“…Frequently, a history of failure to thrive and/or respiratory disease unresponsive to appropriate therapy is also reported [2,33,34]. Tachypnea, cyanotic mucous membranes and right-sided systolic heart murmur detected in the calf of this report were in accordance with what has been previously described in cattle affected by DORV [6][7][8][9]. Tachypnea and cyanosis, especially evident after excitement, were considered as result of anatomic right-to-left shunting of blood in the present calf, while the right-sided systolic heart murmur was due to tricuspid regurgitation secondary to annular dilatation from right heart enlargement.…”

“…Common embryologic origin of these defects can cause a misdiagnosis during echocardiographic examination. A definitive diagnosis of DORV is made when aorta and pulmonary artery emerge as a distinct conus from the right ventricle and no fibrous continuity between the aortic and mitral valves can be demonstrated [7,9]. In the calf of this report, the visualization of both great vessels leaving the right ventricle in parallel alignment with the tricuspid valve, suggested a dual outlet right ventricle; moreover, the anatomic continuity between the aortic and mitral valves cannot be visualized.…”

“…The incidence of DORV in domestic animals is rare and only few case reports have been reported in cats, dogs, horses, pigs, alpacas, and calves [6,7,21,[27][28][29][30][31]. This complex congenital cardiac malformation has been only described in Angus, Brangus, Herford and Holstein breeds [6][7][8][9][10]. To the best of our knowledge, the present report describes for the first time this complex cardiac malformation in a Chianina calf.…”

“…Anatomically, DORV must be associated with any of the right to left communications (ASD, VSD, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) or a combination of the former) to allow arterial and venous blood to mix and deliver oxygen to peripheral tissues. In the reported cases of bovine DORV, a various combination of shunting was present, the most common being represented by VSD that were either large or double, accounting for the shunting of blood [7][8][9][10]. DORV in the absence of VSD is very rare both in humans and animals and accounts for only one of the reported bovine cases [6].…”

“…The double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) is a rare congenital ventriculoarterial malformation where both arterial trunks emerge from the right ventricle. This complex cardiac anomaly has been described only in certain cattle breeds [6][7][8][9][10], but it has never been reported in the Chianina breed.…”