Evaluation of Pericardial Effusion in Dogs and Successful Treatment Using a Hemodialysis Fistula Needle: A Retrospective Study

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess epidemiology and echocardiographic findings of pericardial effusion in canine patients and to determine the clinical usefulness and safety of a new pericardiocentesis technique, using a “fistula needle” for hemodialysis.A database of 5304 dogs of different breeds, age, gender, type and severity of the cardiac disease, referred for a specialist cardiology and echocardiographic examination from 2009 to 2016, was reviewed. All the dogs were subjected to echocardiography; when poss ible and required, an echo-guided pericardiocentesis was performed by mean of a 17 gauge “fistula needle” commonly used for hemodialysis.
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Source Type: research