Further Reading
Bonagura JD, Twedt DC Kirk's current veterinary therapy XV. Elsevier. 2014: 720-838.
Cote E, MacDonald KA. Feline cardiology. Wiley-Blackwell. 2011
Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC.
Textbook of veterinary internal medicine, 7th Ed. Saunders/Elsevier. 2010: 1143-1394. Luis Fuentes V, Johnson RL, Dennis S. BSAVA manual of canine and feline reported. The owner should be warned that an acute bleed into the pleural cavity after pericardectomy may result in sudden death. In cases of mesothelioma, pericardiocentesis will cause tumor cells to spread to the pleural cavity allowing a pleural effusion to develop. Chemotherapy may improve survival time up to 10 months.Pericardectomy: Sub-total pericardectomy may be performed with a lateral or sternal thoracotomy. While the sternal approach allows better visualization to look for any masses, recovery is slower with more complications. This is the treatment of choice in constrictive pericardial disease but the surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality as the thickened fibrotic pericardium is stripped from the heart with significant hemorrhage. Thorascopic pericardectomy can be performed but this often results in a window being cut in the pericardium which may seal with time causing recurrence of clinical signs. Balloon dilation of the pericardium to tear a window has been described but is not widely performed.
Quality of Life with Euthanasia Decision
Many dogs can be managed with repeated drainage of their pericardium. However, if the frequency increases, there needs to be consideration as to whether the periods that are symptom free justify continued treatment. For patients with neoplastic effusion, sudden death can occur or a pleural effusion may prompt a discussion regarding quality of life.
cardiorespiratory medicine, 2nd Ed. Quedgeley: British Small Animal Veterinary Association. 2010.
Smith FWK, Oyama MA, Tilley LP, Sleeper MM. Manual of canine and feline cardiology, 5th Ed. Elsevier. 2016.
Ware WA. Cardiovascular disease in small animal medicine. The Veterinary Press. 2011.