Align-ju STUDENT
Right-sided congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure can put an increased strain on the heart and other organs within the body . In rightsided heart failure , the venous return to the heart is compromised , due to the tricuspid valve letting blood leak back into the right atrium [ 9 ] .
The blood within the vena cava waiting to enter the right atrium then gets congested and backs up the systemic circulation . Due to the congestion , the cells try to make room for the extra backup of blood cells within the system and expel their intracellular fluid . As a result , fluid builds up within the abdomen , also known as ascites .
Left-sided congestive heart failure
Left-sided heart failure is the most common form of congestive heart failure . In left-sided heart failure , blood can leak back into the left atrium and blood can become congested in the lungs . Fluid from blood cells is expelled into the lungs , resulting in pulmonary oedema . This can cause coughing and difficulty breathing [ 9 ] .
Congenital cardiovascular abnormalities
Congenital cardiac abnormalities are present at birth and can continue to cause problems for the animal throughout its life . Common congenital heart conditions include patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonic stenosis [ 10 ] .
Pulmonic stenosis ( PS )
PS is one of the most common congenital heart defects and is more likely to be seen in dogs than in other species seen in practice . When PS occurs , the pulmonic heart valve is constricted , usually due to a blockage , and blood flow from the right ventricle is compromised [ 12 ] .
In mild cases , PS is unlikely to cause any problems or reduce life expectancy , and no treatment is usually required . In severe cases , surgical intervention is needed , with a balloon valvuloplasty usually being performed . A balloon is inserted into the pulmonic valve . The balloon is then inflated and the blockage is cleared [ 12 ] .
Conclusions
The cardiovascular system is one of the most important systems in the body . If the cardiovascular system is compromised , this can have severe and sometimes fatal results for the animal . Cardiovascular compromise can occur from either congenital abnormalities or as a result of degenerative disease .
In some cases , heart disease can be treated medically with prescription medication . In more severe cases , surgical intervention may be needed to manage the issue . Heart conditions are a common problem , with veterinary practices working on cardiac cases regularly . As a veterinary nurse , it is important to understand how the cardiovascular system works and how heart disease can compromise an animal ' s health .
Patent ductus arteriosus ( PDA )
The ductus arteriosus is located in the heart of the foetus and joins the pulmonary artery and the aorta , allowing blood to flow directly from the right ventricle to the aorta . During gestation of the foetus , oxygenated blood in the pulmonary artery flows into the aorta and is distributed to the body . On inflation of the neonate ' s lungs with their first breath after birth , the ductus arteriosus closes , allowing blood to flow towards the lungs for oxygenation [ 10 ] .
In cases of PDA , the ductus does not close at birth . The blood often flows from the aorta , through the ductus and into the pulmonary artery . The pulmonary artery then circulates this oxygenated blood back to the lungs . As a result , the left side of the heart has to work harder to meet the demands of the rest of the body [ 11 ] .
PDA can be classified as mild to severe , with mild cases often being treated with medical management . In severe cases , surgical intervention is often required [ 11 ] .
Volume 38 ( 4 ) • August 2023
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