Open AccessLong‐Term Clinical Management of Right‐to‐Left (“Reversed”) Patent Ductus Arteriosus in 3 Dogs
Author(s) -
Côté Etienne,
Ettinger Stephen J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2001.tb02295.x
Subject(s) - medicine , phlebotomy , ductus arteriosus , exacerbation , blood volume , hyperviscosity , cardiology , adverse effect , anesthesia , surgery , blood viscosity
A small number of dogs with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) have right‐to‐left flow of blood through the ductus, leading to polycythemia and clinical signs associated with hyperviscosity. Three dogs with right‐to‐left‐shunting PDA are described. Treatment consisted solely of phlebotomy, performed on an outpatient basis when indicated by exacerbation of clinical signs, for a total of 11–68 times on each dog. Each treatment entailed the removal of a mean of 19% (maximum 28%) of circulating blood volume, divided into 2 phlebotomies several hours apart, without intravenous fluid replacement. Subjectively, marked clinical improvement was noted. Intermittent clinical signs decreased in frequency and severity in all dogs. Adverse effects were rare (1 for 98 phlebotomies) and reversible. Dogs lived >2 to >8 years during treatment. Outpatient phlebotomy without fluid replacement was safe, and was associated with subjective improvement and prolonged survival in these dogs.