Pericardial tamponade during balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty in a dog

Abstract

A 4-month-old entire male Coton de Tulear dog was referred for balloon valvuloplasty for treatment of severe valvular pulmonic stenosis. During the procedure, when attempting to pass the guide wire into the ventricle, the dog developed cardiac arrest. After initial resuscitation with chest compressions, manual ventilation, adrenaline and intravenous fluids, focused cardiac ultrasound revealed pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis resolved the haemodynamic emergency. This case report should raise awareness of pericardial tamponade as a possible complication during pulmonic stenosis balloon valvuloplasty. It describes the clinical signs observed during anaesthesia as well as how to treat it with a positive outcome.

Accidental cardiac puncture during pericardiocentesis in a dog

“…11 In this case, cardiac puncture occurred as a complication during pericardiocentesis, which is a rare complication within human medicine and not previously reported within the veterinary literature. Cardiac puncture has only previously been reported in veterinary medicine during a percutaneous valvuloplasty procedure 13 and during venous cardiac catheterisation, 14 both which resulted in successful stabilisation and treatment of the patient.…”