Persistent left cranial vena cava in a dog


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Yılmaz Z., Kocatürk Güney M., Koch J.

JOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, vol.1, no.1, pp.1-8, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Case Report
  • Volume: 1 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/jsap.13765
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-8
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

A 10-year-old golden retriever was presented for the evaluation of exercise intolerance. Physical examination and laboratory tests showed no abnormalities except for mild anaemia. Standard trans- thoracic echocardiography revealed dilated coronary sinus, raising suspicion of a persistent left cranial vena cava, and the persistency of this anomaly was confirmed by agitated-saline study. Right ventricu- lar echocardiographic parameters did not change significantly, while conventional parameters and global longitudinal strain analysis revealed left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Moreover, post-systolic shortening and early systolic lengthening were detected by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocar- diography. This report shows that post-systolic shortening and early systolic lengthening may be useful diagnostic markers indicating regional left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether persistent left cranial vena cava contributes to left ventricular systolic dysfunc- tion or is an accidental benign finding in dogs.