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Clinical diagnosis of aneurysm of the right coronary artery in a white cockatoo ( Cacatua alba )
Author(s) -
VinkNooteboom M.,
Schoemaker N. J.,
Kik M. J. L.,
Lumeu J. T.,
Wolvekamp W. Th. C.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1998.tb03700.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , right coronary artery , aneurysm , radiology , coronary angiography , myocardial infarction
A 16‐year‐old male white cockatoo was presented with lethargy and a decreased appetite. Auscultation between the second and third sternal rib revealed a heart murmur, which was confirmed by electrocardiographic and phonocardiographic examination to be systolic, with a shift of the heart axis to ‐152°. Radiographs showed lack of detail in the cranial part of the abdominal coelom, indicative of ascites and an enlarged cardiac shadow, while ultrasonographic examination revealed pericardial effusion and fluid accumulation in the cavitas peritonealis hepatica. An extra fluid‐filled cavity was found at the atrioventricular junction in the right cardiac wall and colour Doppler examination demonstrated a turbulent jetstream of blood into the cavity, originating directly above the aortic valve. Non‐selective angiocardiography confirmed the ultrasonographic observations. Findings were indicative of an aneurysm of the a. coronaria dextra (right coronary artery). This was confirmed by necropsy which revealed atherosclerosis to be the underlying cause.