Surgical palliation of severe tricuspid valve stenosis in a dog by use of Fontan's procedure.

OBJECTIVE

To describe surgical treatment of tricuspid valve stenosis using the Fontan procedure in a young dog.

STUDY

DESIGN

Case report.

SAMPLE POPULATION: One client-owned dog

RESULTS

A six month old female Labrador retriever was diagnosed with tricuspid obstruction. The dog had a displaced tricuspid valve and small right ventricle and had progressed to right-sided (backward) cardiac failure. A Fontan procedure (connection of the right atrium to the pulmonary artery with a prosthetic conduit) was performed. Within three days the right atrial pressure had dropped from a preoperative value of 33 mm Hg to 8 mm Hg and the ascites was significantly reduced. The dog died suddenly two months after surgery. Postmortem examination of the heart showed a greatly enlarged right atrium and hypoplastic right ventricle. The tricuspid valve leaflets were fused and displaced ventrally leaving an opening measuring 3x5 mm between the chambers. The conduit was intact with no evidence of leakage or thrombosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Palliation of tricuspid stenosis using the Fontan procedure can be performed in dogs. Sudden death may occur and is most likely because of cardiac arrythmias.