Dog makes swift recovery after successful repair of PDA

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Sophie, a 19-month-old dachshund, was referred to the Cardiology Service of our Hospital for Small Animals for investigation of a heart murmur that was incidentally found when she was checked by her vet before being neutered.

She was diagnosed with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The ductus arteriosus is a normal structure in the foetus, allowing blood to bypass the lungs, which are not yet being used for oxygenation. The vessel normally closes shortly after birth but can sometimes remain open, as was the case with Sophie. If not addressed, it invariably causes congestive heart failure.

ACDO device

The treatment of choice for this disease is the occlusion of the abnormal vessel with an Amplatz Canine Duct Occluder (ACDO). This is a key-hole surgery, performed through a small incision in Sophie's leg. Using long catheters from the femoral artery, the device was positioned and deployed within the PDA, occluding it from the inside.

Within 10 minutes of deploying the device, the PDA was completely closed. Sophie went home the next day with a very small wound in her inner thigh. She now has an excellent prognosis.