J Vet Sci.  2011 Jun;12(2):199-201. 10.4142/jvs.2011.12.2.199.

Catheter-guided percutaneous heartworm removal using a nitinol basket in dogs with caval syndrome

• Yoon WK
• Han D
• Hyun C

• KMID: 1106565
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2011.12.2.199

Abstract

Carval syndrome is a severe heartworm infection where the worms have migrated to the right atrium and vena cava; this condition is associated with a myriad of clinical signs. Several non-surgical and interventional methods are currently used for mechanical worm removal. However, the success rate and complications related to these methods are heavily dependent on methodology and retrieval devices used. In this study, we developed a catheter-guided heartworm removal method using a retrieval basket that can easily access pulmonary arteries and increase the number of worms removed per procedure. With this technique, we successfully treated four dogs with caval syndrome.

Keyword

basket; caval syndrome; dog; heartworm; mechanical heartworm removal

MeSH Terms

Animals
Dirofilaria immitis/*growth & development
Dirofilariasis/*parasitology/*surgery
Dog Diseases/*parasitology/*surgery
Dogs
Female
Heart Atria/parasitology/surgery
Heart Catheterization/instrumentation/methods/*veterinary
Male
Venae Cavae/parasitology/surgery

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Heartworm removal procedure. After induce surgical anesthesia, the left jugular vein was exposed. An introducer sheath was inserted into the left external jugular vein guided by the pre-placed guide wire into the right atrium, right ventricle, and pulmonary artery (A). The basket device was inserted into the introducer and spread-folded to catch heartworms under fluoroscopic guidance (B and C).

• 

  Fig. 2 Echocardiography and clinical outcomes. (A) M-mode echocardiography revealed clumps (arrow) of heartworms in the right ventricle due to heavy worm burden. (B) B-mode echocardiography showed heartworms migrating from the right ventricle to the right atrium (arrow). (C) Multiple worm removal per trial in a dog (Case 2). (D) Disappearance of heartworms from the right atrium and ventricle after the removal procedure on B-mode echocardiography in a dog (Case 1).

Reference

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