pulmonicstenosis

Canine Pulmonic Stenosis

Pulmonic Stenosis
Pulmonary Stenosis Xray
Balloon Valvuloplasty

What is pulmonic stenosis?

related terms: Pulmonic stenosis, pulmonic stenosis with anomalous left coronary artery, type A pulmonic stenosis (pulmonary ostium hypoplasia), valvular pulmonic stenosis
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As part of normal circulation in the body, the right side of the heart (the right ventricle) pumps blood to the lungs to receive oxygen. The oxygenated blood goes back to the left side of the heart from which it is pumped out to the rest of the body.

Blood flows from the right ventricle of the heart through the pulmonic valve into the pulmonary artery and thence to the lungs. With pulmonic stenosis, there is partial obstruction of normal blood flow, most commonly due to a malformation of the pulmonic valve ("pulmonic valve dysplasia") but the abnormality may be immediately above or below the valve as well.

The effect of this partial obstruction is to force the heart to work harder to pump blood to the lungs. The extent to which a dog will be affected depends on the degree of narrowing (stenosis) of the valve area. With severe stenosis the dog will likely develop congestive heart failure due to the increased workload of the heart.

How is pulmonic stenosis inherited?
Pulmonic stenosis appears to be a polygenic threshold trait.

What breeds are affected by pulmonic stenosis?
Pulmonic stenosis is one of the most common congenital heart defects in all species. There is a breed predisposition in the following breeds of dog:

The English bulldog and the mastiff are at most risk for pulmonic stenosis. In English bulldogs, pulmonic stenosis occurs commonly with an abnormal left main coronary artery branch, arising from a single right coronary artery. In this breed the condition is more common in males.

There is also an increased risk of pulmonic stenosis in the beagle, wire-haired fox terrier, chihuahua, miniature schnauzer, samoyed, Boykin spaniel, West Highland white terrier, cocker spaniel, Airedale terrier, and Scottish terrier.

For many breeds and many disorders, the studies to determine the mode of inheritance or the frequency in the breed have not been carried out, or are inconclusive. We have listed breeds for which there is a general consensus among those investigating in this field and among veterinary practitioners, that the condition is significant in this breed.

What does pulmonic stenosis mean to your dog & you?
In its milder forms, the slight thickening of the pulmonary valve will cause minimal or no obstruction and your dog will not be affected. However with more severe thickening of the valve, the obstruction to blood flow from the right side of the heart will cause varying degrees of heart damage which worsens with age. With moderate-to-severe pulmonic stenosis, your dog may experience signs associated with low cardiac output and/or right-sided heart failure, such as respiratory difficulties, fainting, tiring with exercise, abnormal cardiac rhythms, abdominal swelling due to an enlarged liver or the accumulation of fluid because of failing circulation, or sudden death.

Based on your dog's physical examination and diagnostic tests such as chest x-rays and an electrocardiogram, your veterinarian will discuss with you the severity of the pulmonic stenosis. If there are significant changes evident, he or she will suggest further tests to determine the pressure gradient across the pulmonic valve. (Normally there is no pressure difference between the right ventricle of the heart, and the pulmonary artery to the lungs.) Where there is a pronounced pressure gradient, surgery to correct the stenosis should be considered.

How is pulmonic stenosis diagnosed?
The first indication that your dog has a problem may be when your veterinarian hears a heart murmur on an early physical examination. Alternately, you may see signs in your dog related to heart disease, such as fainting or fatigue with exercise. Your veterinarian will listen carefully to try to determine the location of the murmur and to differentiate it from an "innocent" murmur which disappears by about 6 months of age. If the murmur is significant, your veterinarian will suggest further tests such as a chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, and cardiac ultrasound to help determine the cause, and to see what changes if any have already occurred in the heart as a result of the defect. Once pulmonic stenosis has been diagnosed, Doppler echocardiography or cardiac catheterization can be done to measure the pressure gradient between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, to determine the severity of the obstruction. Based on these test results your veterinarian will discuss with you the long term prognosis for your dog and whether surgical correction of the defect should be considered.

FOR THE VETERINARIAN:
MURMUR: systolic ejection murmur, loudest in pulmonic area near left cranial sternal border, often equally loud along right cranial sternal border.

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM:
RV hypertrophy and right axis shift, right atrial enlargement, possibly arrhythmia associated with hypertrophy.

RADIOGRAPHS:
right ventricular hypertrophy , poststenotic dilation of pulmonary artery with distal pulmonary vessels reduced in size.

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY:
primary means of diagnosis of pulmonic stenosis, typically see mild to moderate right atrial dilation, concentric RV hypertrophy, deformity and narrowing in the pulmonic valve region, and poststenotic dilation of the pulmonary artery.

jugular pulses may be evident.

In English bulldogs, pulmonic stenosis is commonly associated with a left coronary artery anomaly which has important implications for surgical correction.

How is pulmonic stenosis treated?
With mild-to-moderate stenosis, your veterinarian will monitor your dog. No other treatment is necessary unless clinical signs develop which are associated with heart disease. Surgery is an option in dogs with moderate-to-severe pulmonic stenosis, with different techniques recommended depending on the site of the stenosis. Because of the expertise and technical equipment required and the surgical risk involved, surgery to correct pulmonic stenosis is generally performed in a referral centre.

Surgery is more risky if atrial fibrillation or congestive heart failure have developed. These conditions should be treated medically and the dog stabilized before surgery is considered.

Medical management for congestive heart failure is similar no matter what the cause, and consists of medications to support the heart muscle and decrease the work load of the heart, together with dietary recommendations.

Breeding advice
Affected individuals and their parents should not be used for breeding. Siblings should only be used after careful screening. If any affected offspring are born, breeding of the parents should be discontinued.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DISORDER, PLEASE SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN.

Resources
Bussardori, C. 1998. Breed related echocardiographic prognostic indicators in pulmonic and subaortic stenosis. ACVIM-Proceedings of the 16th Annual Veterinary Medical Forum: 140-142.
Bonagura, J.D. and Darke, P.G.G. 1995. Congenital heart disease. In S.J. Ettinger and E.C. Feldman (eds.)Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, p. 892-943. W.B. Saunders, Toronto.
Patterson, D.F. 1996. The genetics of canine congenital heart disease. ACVIM-Proceedings of the 14th Annual Veterinary Medical Forum: 225-226. This reference has good information for breeders and veterinarians regarding screening and genetic counselling for congenital heart defects.
Thomas, W.P. 1995. Therapy of congenital pulmonic stenosis. In J.D. Bonagura and R.W. Kirk (eds.) Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy XII Small Animal Practice, p. 817-821. W.B. Saunders, Toronto.
Copyright © 1998 Canine Inherited Disorders Database. All rights reserved.

This database is funded jointly by the Animal Welfare Unit at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association

reprinted with kind permission from:-
Alice Crook, DVM,Coordinator, Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, Atlantic Veterinary College,University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Ave.Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4P3

http://www.upei.ca/cidd

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Pulmonary Stenosis XRay	Pulmonary Xray

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Balloon Valvuloplasty

Balloon valvuloplasty is a surgical procedure utilizing cardiac catheterization to treat PS. Using fluoroscopy, a balloon catheter is passed via the femoral or jugular vein across the pulmonic valve. The balloon is positioned across the obstruction and inflated with fluid under pressure. This stretches or breaks the obstructing tissue allowing blood to flow across the stenosis more easily and reducing the pressure gradient between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. The procedure has a good success rate, is minimally invasive, and is relatively low risk. The most common complication is recurrence of the stenosis.

Balloon valvuloplasty is usually recommended for dogs with severe pulmonic stenosis whether or not they are symptomatic at the time of diagnosis. These dogs are prone to developing ventricular arrhythmias that can result in sudden death. Medications such as beta blockers may be prescribed to help reduce the risk of arrhythmias. These patients should be monitored closely for signs of weakness or fainting.

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Pulmonic Stenosis

The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.