Page 5 - Clinical Connections - Spring 2024

Cardiology

A WEEK IN THE CARDIOLOGY SERVICE

he Cardiology Service at RVC Small such as placement of pulmonic valvular cardiac disease, especially in cases where
Animal Referrals offers one of the stents and vascular occlusion devices. echocardiography cannot give the full
T largest and most comprehensive Additionally, a weekly puppy and kitten picture. Take Bert, for example. He is a
cardiology services in Europe, with four clinic has been initiated, with appointment sweet, eight-year-old Border terrier who
cardiologists – Virginia Luis Fuentes, David slots specifically for our youthful animals presented for pericardial effusion. This had
Connolly, Nekesa Morey and Joshua that have cardiac disease that may require been drained successfully by a colleague
Hannabuss. They work alongside a fantastic a procedure to both extend and improve in general practice prior to presentation at
team of cardiology residents, including quality of life. the RVC, ensuring that Bert was stable for
Luke Dutton, Brogan Atkinson, Eve Lo and With multiple teams involved, we can general anaesthesia.
Maximilliane Sehn, with their wonderful introduce a diverse approach to cardiac A CT was performed using our 320-slice,
RVN, Sarah Dallinger. disease, offering tailored multidisciplinary cardiac-gated scanner, and this determined
With a recently expanded team, the care. that an underlying malignant problem was
Cardiology Service is working harder to not the cause for his pericardial effusion
diagnose and treat cardiac diseases, (which they often can be). The fabulous
ranging from complex congenital heart aspect of our CT allows us to pick up
disease and acquired cardiomyopathies. minute details that are often missed with
Recent equipment investments including other imaging, allowing us to make a more
a new fluoroscopy unit, a cardiac gated, complete diagnosis.
320-slice CT scanner and a new GE Vivid The scanner revolves and functions
IQ echocardiography unit with the ability around our patient’s intrinsic heart rhythms
to perform 3D and 4D transthoracic and and rates, generating complete pictures.
transoesophageal echocardiography, are Bert was able to go home with his
allowing the Cardiology Service to provide owners the same day following his scan to
fine-detail treatment plans to pets. This is recuperate.
particularly valuable for those patients with
complex congenital heart disease. Friday
The equipment mentioned above was Dolly, our sweet French bulldog, presented
funded by the RVC’s Animal Care Trust. The for a unique procedure where pulmonic valve
GE Vivid IQ echocardiography unit increases Ella presented with congestive heart failure stents are placed to relieve an obstruction to
capacity of the service, with high quality blood flow within the pulmonary artery. This
cardiac imaging available simultaneously in Monday and Tuesday is a relatively new procedure, but the data
consult rooms and operating theatres for the Treatment of a young dog, Ella, with a patent suggests an excellent outcome for dogs
first time. ductus arteriosus (PDA). Ella presented in with valvular pulmonic stenosis.
left-sided congestive heart failure which, if The stent was placed successfully,
left untreated, can result in fatality. However, relieving the obstruction associated with
the Cardiology Service was able to medically the stenosis. Dolly was discharged over
manage her heart failure, allowing her to the course of the weekend following her
undergo an interventional procedure, where procedure and has fully returned to normal
an occlusion device (Amplatz Canine Ductal exercise and play.
Occluder) is placed in the PDA, successfully
occluding it and preventing blood flow
across it.
During this procedure, the team
utilised our new Vivid IQ echo machine
in order to perform transoesophageal
echocardiography. The benefit to this is
it gives excellent visualisation of the PDA
The team using the Vivid IQ unit and helps facilitate placement of the device
into the PDA. This procedure has a 98%
The Cardiothoracic Surgery Service, success rate and Ella was discharged after
headed by Dan Brockman, who performs a successful procedure.
regular open heart mitral valve repair Dolly at RVC Small Animal Referrals
surgery, is on hand to discuss complex Wednesday
surgical cases. Our CT day of the week. This day is
The team is excited to drive catheterisation reserved for our patients that may require
procedures, offering unique procedures detailed imaging to fully assess their For small animal referrals, please call:
01707 666399
Email:
qmhreception@rvc.ac.uk

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