Pericardiectomy in dogs: 22 cases (1978-1994)
Kerstetter, K.K.; Krahwinkel, D.J.; Millis, D.L.; Hahn, K.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 211(6): 736-740
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 9301745 Document Number: 481134
Medical records of all dogs admitted to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Teaching Hospital between July 1978 and December 1994 that had pericardial disease and that underwent pericardiectomy were reviewed. Nine dogs had neoplastic pericardial disease (chemodectoma, 4; haemangiosarcoma, 2; malignant mesothelioma, 2; lymphoblastic lymphoma, 1). 13 dogs had non-neoplastic pericardial disease (benign idiopathic pericarditis, 10; lymphocytic-plasmacytic pericarditis, 2; osseous metaplasia of unknown cause, 1). Thoracic radiography and echocardiography were the most specific methods for diagnosis of pericardial effusion. Pleural effusion was the commonest postoperative complication (8/22 dogs). Prevalence of postoperative complications was not associated with underlying cause of pericardial disease, surgical approach, or surgical procedure (subtotal vs. total pericardiectomy). Median survival time of dogs with neoplastic disease (52 days) was significantly shorter than median survival time of dogs with non-neoplastic disease (792 days). Dogs that developed pleural effusion >30 days after pericardiectomy had a poor prognosis for survival.