Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by the nematode, Dirofilaria immitis, that is transmitted to dogs by at least 10 to 15 species of mosquitoes.1,2 Heartworm disease is most common in tropical and subtropical climates, but occurs throughout the United States, with an incidence of 45% along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the Mississippi River and its major tributaries.1–5 The number of adult heartworms found in affected dogs varies dramatically, depending on the local concentration of infected mosquitoes and mean temperature in the region.3,4,6
Clinical signs of HWD reflect the number of heart-worms, the duration of infection, and the host immune response.2–4 The immunologic response to the parasite may be more important than the worm burden in determining disease severity.7 Clinical signs that have been reported for affected dogs include cough, dyspnea, syncope, weight loss, and lethargy.2–5,8
Caval syndrome is a life-threatening manifestation of HWD.4,9,10 Caval syndrome is thought to develop when a large number of heartworms mature over a short period and is therefore uncommon in geographic areas characterized by a low incidence of heartworm infection and low heartworm burdens.1–3 Caval syndrome is characterized by severe pulmonary hypertension and decreased cardiac output, with subsequent displacement and retrograde migration of adult heartworms into the main pulmonary arteries, right atrium, right ventricle, and, less commonly, the vena cava.3,11 Migrating heartworms may mechanically disrupt the tricuspid valve and physically obstruct blood flow entering the right atrium and right ventricle.1,10,11
The number of heartworms required to cause CS is dependent on the size of the patient. In large dogs, CS is typically associated with heartworm burdens of 60 to 100.1,2 However, an experimental study12 documented CS in dogs with a mean worm burden of 40 (range, 12 to 125 worms) and with as few as 12 worms in 1 dog. In general, prognosis for CS is thought to be poor without prompt heartworm extraction.2,5,10 The objectives of the present study were to describe the outcome of treatment of CS in dogs and to provide information on long-term survival of patients with this condition.
Material and Methods
Case selection—The electronic medical records database of Texas A&M University Teaching Hospital was searched to identify all dogs with a diagnosis of CS that were admitted between January 16, 1999, and June 25, 2007. Forty-two dogs referred for treatment of CS or subsequently determined to have CS were identified and the records reviewed for inclusion in the study. When possible, additional follow-up data were collected by telephone interviews with referring veterinarians and owners.
Medical records review—For each dog, signalment, historical information obtained from the owner or referring veterinarian, results of physical examination, results of clinicopathologic analyses (CBC, serum biochemistry panel, and coagulation panel), and results of diagnostic imaging (thoracic radiography and echocardiography) were reviewed. Dogs were categorized according to treatment as follows: dogs that had transvenous heartworm extraction attempted or dogs that had no treatment or procedure attempted. Additional information obtained from the medical records included preoperative medications, sedation and anesthetic protocols, intra- and postoperative medications, transfusions, and any other treatments administered to dogs that underwent treatment (ie, heartworm extraction). Finally, any complications, duration of hospitalization, and reasons for death or euthanasia in dogs that did not survive or were not treated were recorded.
Statistical analysis—A 2-sample proportion test was used to compare characteristics between 2 groups (eg, dogs that underwent treatment and survived vs dogs that underwent treatment and died). Linear regression (for normally distributed data) and Kruskal-Wallis tests (for data that were not normally distributed) were used to compare data among 2 groups. Kaplan-Meier product-limit estimates were used for nonparametric estimates of cumulative survival probabilities. A proportional hazards model with a Weibull distribution was used for parametric survival estimates. Model comparisons for different parametric distributions were made by use of the Akaike criterion. When data were normally distributed, they were reported as mean ± SD. Other data were reported as median values and interquartile ranges. All statistical analyses were performed with a commercially available software package.a Values of P < 0.05 were considered significant.
Results
Animals—The study population consisted of 42 dogs with a diagnosis of CS. Dogs comprised 11 (26%) sexually intact females, 18 (43%) sexually intact males, 5 (12%) castrated males, and 8 (19%) spayed females. Breeds of dogs included Chihuahua (n = 5 dogs), Dachshund (5), mixed-breed dogs (4), American Staffordshire Terrier (3), Pug (2), Dalmatian (2), German Shepherd Dog (2), Rottweiler (2), English Bulldog (2), Boston Terrier (2), Toy Fox Terrier (2), Shetland Sheepdog (2), Miniature Poodle (2), Boxer (1), Welsh Sheepdog (1), Italian Greyhound (1), Chinese Crested (1), Yorkshire Terrier (1), Saluki (1), and English Springer Spaniel (1). Dogs ranged from 1.4 to 15.7 years of age (mean ± SD, 7.0 ± 3.7 years). Median body weight was 9.3 kg (20.5 lb) and ranged from 2 to 43 kg (4.4 to 94.6 lb) with a mean body weight of 12.6 ± 9.0 kg (27.7 ± 19.8 lb).
Dogs had a variety of clinical signs at the time they were first examined at the veterinary teaching hospital (Table 1). All dogs underwent a complete physical examination, CBC determination, serum biochemical analysis, echocardiography, and heartworm antigen testing. The complete range of diagnostic tests was not performed on all dogs in the study. Some dogs underwent additional diagnostic tests, including a coagulation panel with measurement of antithrombin III (24/42 [57%]), urinalysis (40/42 [95%]), and thoracic radiography (35/42 [83%]). Additional clinical signs included coughing (18/42 [43%]), ascites (22/41 [54%]), jugular distension (15/41 [37%]), heart murmur (38/42 [91%]), exercise intolerance (25/41 [61%]), collapse (6/42 [14%]), pale mucus membranes (31/42 [74%]), weak femoral pulses (9/42 [21%]), and profound weakness with recumbency (9/42 [21%]).
Number (%) of dogs (unless otherwise indicated) with CS that had specific clinical findings and diagnostic test results (not all variables were recorded for all dogs).
| Variable | All dogs (n = 42) | No heartworm extraction (n = 21) | Dogs that underwent attempted heartworm extraction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All dogs (n = 21)* | Successful extraction and survived to discharge (n = 14) | Died during surgery (n = 2) | Died after surgery (n = 4) | |||
| DIC† | 19/31 (61) | 7/11 (64) | 12/20 (60) | 9/13 (69) | 1/2 (50) | 2/4 (50) |
| Serum ALT | ||||||
| Mild increase (130–260 U/L) | 7/31 (23) | 2/12 (17) | 5/19 (26) | 2/12 (17) | 0/2 (0) | 2/4 (50) |
| Severe increase (> 260 U/L) | 9/31 (29) | 4/12 (33) | 5/19 (26) | 3/12 (25) | 2/2 (100) | 0/4 (0) |
| Serum alkaline phosphatase | ||||||
| Mild increase (147–294 U/L) | 10/31 (32) | 3/12 (25) | 7/19 (37) | 3/12 (25) | 1/2 (50) | 3/4 (75) |
| Severe increase (> 294 U/L) | 5/31 (16) | 2/12 (17) | 3/19 (16) | 3/12 (25) | 0/2 (0) | 0/4 (0) |
| BUN | ||||||
| Mild increase (29–58 mg/dL) | 7/35 (20) | 3/14 (21) | 4/21 (19) | 3/14 (21) | 1/2 (50) | 0/4 (0) |
| Severe increase (> 58 mg/dL) | 17/35 (49) | 8/14 (57) | 9/21 (43) | 5/14 (36) | 1/2 (50) | 3/4 (75) |
| Serum creatinine | ||||||
| Mild increase (2–4 mg/dL) | 5/33 (15) | 3/12 (25) | 2/21 (10) | 0/14 (0) | 1/2 (50) | 1/4 (25) |
| Severe increase (> 4 mg/dL) | 3/33 (9) | 2/12 (17) | 1/21 (5) | 1/14 (7) | 0/2 (0) | 0/4 (0) |
| Cachexia (body condition score < 4‡) | 9/18 (50) | 4/8 (50) | 5/10 (50) | 3/7 (43) | 1/1 (100) | 1/2 (50) |
| Anemia (Hct < 31%) | 20/36 (56) | 6/15 (40) | 14/21 (67) | 8/14 (57) | 2/2 (100) | 3/4 (75) |
| Leukocytosis (> 17×103 WBC/μL) | 25/31 (81) | 9/11 (82) | 16/20 (80) | 10/13 (77) | 2/2 (100) | 3/4 (75) |
| Hemolysis | 13/32 (41) | 4/11 (36) | 9/21 (43) | 7/14 (50) | 0/2 (0) | 1/4 (25) |
| Location of heartworms on initial echocardiogram | ||||||
| Right atrium, ventricle, or both | 31/31 (100) | 12/12 (100) | 19/19 (100) | 12/12 (100) | 2/2 (100) | 4/4 (100) |
| Pulmonary artery | 13/29 (45) | 4/10 (40) | 9/19 (47) | 4/12 (33) | 2/2 (100) | 3/4 (75) |
| Pulmonary hypertension§ | 20/31 (65) | 7/11 (64) | 13/20 (65) | 9/13 (69) | 2/2 (100) | 2/4 (50) |
| Mild (27–49 mm Hg) | 3/15 (20) | 1/4 (25) | 2/11 (18) | 2/8 (25) | 0/2 (0) | 1/1 (100) |
| Moderate (50–75 mm Hg) | 5/15 (33) | 1/4 (25) | 4/11 (36) | 3/8 (38) | 1/2 (50) | 0/1 (0) |
| Severe (> 75 mm Hg) | 7/15 (47) | 2/4 (50) | 5/11 (45) | 3/8 (38) | 1/2 (50) | 0/1 (0) |
| Positive for microfilaria | 29/34 (85) | 12/14 (86) | 17/20 (85) | 10/13 (77) | 2/2 (100) | 4/4 (100) |
| Positive for heartworm antigen | 35/36 (97) | 14/15 (93) | 21/21 (100) | 14/14 (100) | 2/2 (100) | 4/4 (100) |
| Dyspnea | 24/42 (57) | 12/21 (57) | 12/21 (57) | 9/14 (64) | 2/2 (100) | 1/4 (25) |
| Hemoglobinuria | 29/40 (73) | 11/19 (58) | 18/21 (86) | 11/14 (79) | 2/2 (100) | 4/4 (100) |
| Thoracic radiographs | ||||||
| Right-sided cardiac enlargement | 33/35 (94) | 13/14 (93) | 20/21 (95) | 14/14 (100) | 2/2 (100) | 3/4 (75) |
| Dilatation of main pulmonary artery | 31/35 (88) | 12/14 (86) | 19/21 (90) | 13/14 (93) | 2/2 (100) | 4/4 (100) |
| Time to surgery after diagnosis (h) | ||||||
| Mean ± SD | NA | NA | 7.1 ± 5.1 | 6.6 ± 5.1 | 5.5 ± 3.5 | 6.5 ± 2.1 |
| Range | NA | NA | 1–19 | 1–16 | 3–8 | 4–9 |
| Anesthesia time (min) | ||||||
| Mean ± SD | NA | NA | 67 ± 55 | 56 ± 29 | 34 ± 27 | 126 ± 99 |
| Range | NA | NA | 15–260 | 20–120 | 15–53 | 30–260 |
| No. of heartworms removed | ||||||
| Mean ± SD | NA | NA | 29.9 ± 31.2 | 33.5 ± 24.0 | 0 ± 0 | 39.5 ± 53.9 |
| Range | NA | NA | 0–120 | 4–75 | 0–0 | 8–120 |
| Residual heartworms ∥ | NA | NA | NA | 10/13 (77) | NA | NA |
One dog in this group had the procedure discontinued after induction of general anesthesia, when heartworms had migrated to the distal portion of the pulmonary artery and became inaccessible. This dog was excluded from the successful heartworm extraction and survived to discharge group. See text for full description.
A diagnosis of DIC was made when dogs had any 3 of the following: thrombocytopenia, prolongation of prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times, decreased antithrombin III concentration, and increased concentration of fibrin degradation products.
Body condition score on a range from 1 to 9.
A diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension was made if Doppler ultrasonography estimated a right atrial to right ventricular pressure gradient of > 27 mm Hg. Five of the 20 dogs with documented pulmonary hypertension could not be categorized because the gradient was not recorded in the medical record.
As detected on follow-up echocardiography.
NA= Not applicable.
Twenty-one of 42 (50%) dogs underwent heart-worm extraction by means of a minimally invasive transvenous approach. Twenty-one (50%) dogs were not treated. Seventeen of the 21 dogs that did not undergo treatment were euthanatized. Reasons for euthanasia included financial constraints (4/21 [24%]), poor prognosis (8/21 [47%]), and unknown (5/21 [29%]). Transvenous heartworm extraction or euthanasia was declined as an option for 3 dogs, and these dogs were discharged. All 3 dogs were subsequently lost to follow-up, although 2 dogs were expected to be seen by their primary care veterinarians soon after discharge for humane euthanasia. Transvenous heartworm extraction was not recommended as treatment for 1 dog because of a relatively low heartworm burden, severe pulmonary hypertension, and no evidence of hemolysis or DIC. This dog was discharged at the request of the owner to be euthanatized by the referring veterinarian, and additional follow-up information was not available.
Dogs that underwent transvenous heartworm extraction (21/42 [50%]) received the following preoperative medications: cefazolin (10/21 [48%]), dalteparin sodium (7/21 [33%]), prednisolone (10/21 [47%]), diphenhydramine (9/21 [43%]), dexamethasone (6/21 [29%]), hydromorphone (5/21 [24%]), albuterol aerosol (4/21 [19%]), glycopyrrolate (4/21 [19%]), prednisone (4/21 [19%]), pimobendan (1/21 [5%]), and sildenafil (1/21 [5%]). Two (10%) dogs received fresh frozen plasma transfusions prior to surgery for a diagnosis of DIC. Dogs were positioned in left lateral recumbency under sedation (5/21 [24%]) or general anesthesia (16/21 [76%]). Dogs were administered general anesthesia on the basis of their hemodynamic stability and general demeanor. Sedation or premedication was achieved with midazolam (11/21 [52%]) or diazepam (10/21 [48%]) and fentanyl (11/21 [52%]) via bolus injection, or midazolam and fentanyl via continuous rate infusion (11/21 [52%]). General anesthesia was induced with etomidate (16/21 [76%]) and maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen (17/21 [81%]).
Heartworms were removed from the right atrium and right ventricle by use of an endoscopic retrieval deviceb that was introduced via right jugular venotomy. In 1 dog, the left jugular vein was used. Lidocaine was administered SC for local analgesia of the neck in 4 (19%) dogs. Intraoperative medications included administration of lidocaine (8/21 [38%]), cefazolin (6/21 [29%]), albuterol aerosol (6/21 [29%]), dobutamine (3/21 [14%]), atropine (3/21 [14%]), epinephrine (3/21 [14%]), glycopyrrolate (2/21 [10%]), dopamine (2/21 [10%]), diphenhydramine (2/21 [10%]), mannitol (2/21 [10%]), and aminophylline (2/21 [10%]). Because of anemia, 2 dogs (Hct, 18.1%) received packed RBC transfusions and 1 dog (Hct, 17.2%) was given a hemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying solutionc IV.
Transvenous heartworm extraction—Twenty-one dogs had transvenous heartworm extraction attempted. In 1 dog, heartworms migrated deep into the pulmonary arteries following induction of general anesthesia, making heartworm extraction via catheter impossible. This dog was subsequently discharged from the hospital and was included in the treatment group, but was considered to have had an unsuccessful outcome because catheter extraction was not performed. Two (10%) dogs died during the procedure, 3 (14%) dogs died within 24 hours after surgery, and 1 (5%) dog died 72 hours after surgery. The 2 dogs that died during the procedure experienced cardiac arrest secondary to unresponsive bradycardia. Although normal sinus rhythm was successfully restored in these dogs, neither dog regained consciousness and both dogs were euthanatized. The remaining 4 dogs died after surgery. Two of these dogs had evidence of DIC before surgery, and all 4 dogs were hypotensive throughout the procedure; 1 dog developed cardiac arrest that required resuscitation during surgery. One dog developed seizures following the procedure and was euthanatized. One dog became agonal and died of aspiration pneumonia of unknown etiology, which was confirmed by necropsy. In one of the remaining dogs, some heartworms were attached to the tricuspid valve and could not be removed, and the other dog developed progressive DIC. Both of these dogs became nonresponsive; the first of these 2 underwent cardiopulmonary arrest, and the second was euthanatized. The overall in-hospital mortality rate of dogs undergoing attempted transvenous heartworm extraction was 29% (6/21). The overall success rate of transvenous heartworm extraction defined as dogs that had successful heartworm extraction and survived to discharge was 14 (67%). These 14 dogs had uneventful anesthetic procedures with uneventful recoveries.
The 18 dogs that survived successful transvenous heartworm extraction were recovered in the intensive care unit with oxygen supplementation administered via oxygen cage (n = 16) and parenteral analgesia (hydromorphone and buprenorphine) as required. Additional medications included cefazolin (n = 12), dalteparin sodium (9), prednisone (14), pimobendan (7), theophylline (4), sildenafil (5), enrofloxacin (2), ampicillin (2), and metronidazole (1). Five dogs received fresh frozen plasma transfusions.
Fourteen of 21 dogs successfully underwent transvenous heartworm extraction and were discharged from the hospital. The mean hospitalization time was 3.6 ± 1.96 days (range, 1 to 8 days). Medications provided upon discharge included prednisone (n = 14), ivermectin heartworm preventative (7), sildenafil (6), amoxicillin trihydrate and clavulanate potassium (5), theophylline (3), dalteparin sodium (2), pimobendan (1), doxycycline (1), furosemide (1), enalapril (1), cephalexin (1), and clopidogrel bisulfated (1). Discharge instructions included strict rest for a minimum of 1 month and reevaluation in 1 to 3 months for possible initiation of adulticide treatment. The dog that was anesthetized but had no heartworms removed was discharged after 2 days of hospitalization. During hospitalization, a split-dose protocol of immiticide was initiated, and the dog was discharged. The owners were instructed to administer prednisone and heartworm preventative medication, provide strict rest, and follow-up with the primary care veterinarian for the second and third adulticide injections in 30 to 45 days. This dog was lost to follow-up after discharge.
The treatment group (n = 21) was divided into 3 subgroups for comparison as follows: died during procedure (2), died within hours of the procedure (4), and successful heartworm extraction and survived to discharge (14). For the purpose of follow-up analysis, the 1 dog in which the heartworms migrated to the distal portion of the pulmonary artery following general anesthesia was not included in the successful heartworm extraction and survived to discharge group (Table 1). There was no significant difference in the time from admission to time the procedure was performed, or anesthesia time, when the 3 treatment subgroups were compared. The mean number of heartworms removed from the 21 dogs that had extraction attempted was 29.9 ± 31.2 with a range of 0 to 120. No heartworms were removed from the 2 dogs that died during surgery or from the dog with heartworm migration into the pulmonary arteries. The mean number of heartworms removed in the 14 dogs that survived to be discharged versus the dogs that died in the postoperative period was not significantly different. Thirteen of the 14 dogs with successful heartworm extraction that survived to discharge underwent postoperative echocardiography. Ten of these 13 dogs had residual heartworms in the pulmonary artery.
The progress of the 14 dogs that underwent successful heartworm extraction and survived to discharge was followed. Mean follow-up time for these dogs was 24.4 ± 17.7 months, with a range of 2 to 56 months. At the time of final follow-up, 11 of the 14 dogs discharged from the hospital had survived at least 18 months and 6 of these dogs had survived > 24 months. By the end of the study, 1 dog was lost to follow-up and 3 had been euthanatized for unrelated issues. The probability that a dog undergoing transvenous heartworm extraction would live at least 6 months was 65% (95% CI, 41% to 82%), and the probability that it would survive 50 months was 33% (95% CI, 2% to 73%; Figure 1).
Kaplan-Meier survival curve for 20 dogs with CS treated by means of transvenous catheter extraction. Vertical hatch marks indicate dogs that were lost to follow-up or died of causes unrelated to HWD or CS. The single dog that underwent the procedure but failed to have any heartworms removed and survived to discharge was not included in the model. Values are shown with 95% confidence intervals (dashed lines).
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 2; 10.2460/javma.236.2.187
Kaplan-Meier survival curve for 20 dogs with CS treated by means of transvenous catheter extraction. Vertical hatch marks indicate dogs that were lost to follow-up or died of causes unrelated to HWD or CS. The single dog that underwent the procedure but failed to have any heartworms removed and survived to discharge was not included in the model. Values are shown with 95% confidence intervals (dashed lines).
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 2; 10.2460/javma.236.2.187
Kaplan-Meier survival curve for 20 dogs with CS treated by means of transvenous catheter extraction. Vertical hatch marks indicate dogs that were lost to follow-up or died of causes unrelated to HWD or CS. The single dog that underwent the procedure but failed to have any heartworms removed and survived to discharge was not included in the model. Values are shown with 95% confidence intervals (dashed lines).
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 2; 10.2460/javma.236.2.187
A parametric proportional hazards model with a Weibull distribution was performed to evaluate the effect of the preoperative clinicopathologic or diagnostic imaging results on survival time. High serum ALT activity (P = 0.02) and the presence of heartworms in the pulmonary artery (P = 0.03) before surgery were found to have significant effects on survival rate (Figures 2 and 3). Dogs with high serum ALT activities had a lower overall survival rate than dogs with ALT activities within reference limits. Based on the model, if a dog had both high serum ALT activity and heart-worms in the pulmonary artery, predicted survival would be 0%. However, because of the sample size of only 18, with 9 deaths and 9 censored observations, these findings may not be representative of a larger population.
Effect of high preoperative serum ALT activity and the presence of heartworms in the pulmonary arteries (as detected by echocardiography prior to surgery) on survival rate for 18 dogs with CS. Values are shown with 95% confidence intervals (dashed lines).
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 2; 10.2460/javma.236.2.187
Effect of high preoperative serum ALT activity and the presence of heartworms in the pulmonary arteries (as detected by echocardiography prior to surgery) on survival rate for 18 dogs with CS. Values are shown with 95% confidence intervals (dashed lines).
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 2; 10.2460/javma.236.2.187
Effect of high preoperative serum ALT activity and the presence of heartworms in the pulmonary arteries (as detected by echocardiography prior to surgery) on survival rate for 18 dogs with CS. Values are shown with 95% confidence intervals (dashed lines).
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 2; 10.2460/javma.236.2.187
Effect of high preoperative serum ALT activity on survival rate for 18 dogs with CS but without heartworms detected in the pulmonary arteries. Values are shown with 95% confidence intervals (dashed lines).
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 2; 10.2460/javma.236.2.187
Effect of high preoperative serum ALT activity on survival rate for 18 dogs with CS but without heartworms detected in the pulmonary arteries. Values are shown with 95% confidence intervals (dashed lines).
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 2; 10.2460/javma.236.2.187
Effect of high preoperative serum ALT activity on survival rate for 18 dogs with CS but without heartworms detected in the pulmonary arteries. Values are shown with 95% confidence intervals (dashed lines).
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 2; 10.2460/javma.236.2.187
Discussion
Heartworm CS, while relatively uncommon, affects 16% to 20% of dogs with HWD.4 However, it is a life-threatening and expensive complication of heart-worm infection that requires rapid decisive action by owners and veterinarians. The goal of this study was to offer new data on prognosis and survival rate of dogs with CS.
The clinical signs of dyspnea, hemoglobinuria, jugular distension, pale mucus membranes, weak femoral pulses, and presence of a heart murmur that were observed in our patients on first examination were consistent with previously reported clinical signs of CS.4,5 The presence of hepatic and renal dysfunction, anemia, leukocytosis, hemolysis, and DIC was also consistent with previous reports.1,3–5,9 In the present study, there was a significant reduction in survival rate in dogs with high serum ALT activities. In CS, elevations in ALT activity may be associated with passive hepatic congestion, inadequate cardiac output, DIC, hepatic thrombosis, or an overall proinflammatory state. In our retrospective study, high serum ALT activity was significantly associated with a decreased survival rate. Additionally, based on the model, if a dog had both a high serum ALT activity and heartworms in the pulmonary artery on initial examination, mortality rate was predicted to be 100%. Documentation of heart-worms in the pulmonary artery before surgery may be associated with higher heartworm burdens and may reduce the number of accessible heartworms that can be retrieved during a transvenous procedure. This may then result in higher postretrieval heartworm burdens, increasing complication rates, and ultimately reduced survival. As in any retrospective study, interpretation of the results is at best speculative and represents the limitations of this study.
Most published studies12,13 do not report mortality rates, but it has been suggested that mortality rates of 30% to 40% are to be expected in dogs with CS,5 with a poor to guarded prognosis even with heartworm extraction.5,10 Disseminated intravascular coagulation and multiorgan failure have been reported as the primary causes of death, either before or after transvenous heartworm extraction.5,13 In the present study, the inhospital mortality rate for dogs undergoing attempted transvenous heartworm extraction was 29% (6/21), which is similar to a previous report.5 Fourteen (67%) dogs successfully underwent transvenous heartworm extraction and were discharged from the hospital. However, most of these dogs had residual heartworms in the pulmonary arteries. Mean follow-up time in the 14 discharged dogs was 24.4 ± 17.7 months, with a range of 2 to 56 months. To date, of the 14 dogs discharged from the hospital, 11 have survived at least 18 months, and 6 of these have survived > 24 months. Medical treatment with an adulticide was recommended in most of these 14 dogs, but follow-up information was not available because ongoing treatment was administered by referring veterinarians. Of the remaining 3 dogs, 2 were lost to follow-up and 1 was euthanatized because of intervertebral disc disease. These results suggest that dogs with CS that undergo successful minimally invasive surgical treatment via transvenous heartworm extraction and survive to be discharged from the hospital have a good long-term prognosis.
ABBREVIATIONS
| ALT | Alanine aminotransferase |
| CS | Caval syndrome |
| DIC | Disseminated intravascular coagulation |
| HWD | Heartworm disease |
StataCorp LP, College Station, Tex.
Endoscopic retrieval basket (4-wire basket, 2.8-mm external diameter, 165-cm length), Olympus, San Jose, Calif.
Oxyglobin, Biopure, Cambridge, Mass.
Plavix, Bristol-Myers Squibb, New York, NY.
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