Page 5 - Clinical Connections - Spring 2024

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Page 5 - Clinical Connections - Spring 2024
P. 5

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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