Successful heart surgery for Stanley after suffering with complex heart problem

A dog suffering from a complex heart problem was able to return to his grateful owners just 24 hours after a pioneering minimally invasive trans-atrial stent procedure. 

The procedure was performed on a nine-year-old bulldog crossbreed to relieve the compression of his caudal cava and normalise venous return to the heart.  

Stanley’s heart problem was first discovered when he was being scanned for a hip issue which is now being managed separately.  Upon discovery, he was referred to our cardiology team for assessment of a cardiac mass, which turned out to be a heart-base tumour.  

Diagnosis determined that Stanley had hepatic congestion and ascites, caused by neoplastic compression of the caudal vena cava at its entry point into the right atrium.  

The procedure involved accessing Stanley’s heart using a trans-jugular approach, guided by fluoroscopic imaging.  

After isolating the boundaries of the compression by performing an angiogram, Eastcott’s specialist-led cardiac surgery team deployed a woven Nitinol stent from the caudal to the cranial vena cava, through the right atrium. 

Repeat angiography showed restoration of caudal caval flow and a radiograph was taken to show the final stent position. 

Kieran Borgeat, Clinical Director and an American, European and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology, said: “Eastcott’s cardiology team planned this keyhole surgery to relieve the compression of Stanley’s blood vessels, in order to improve his cardiac output and prevent him from developing signs of liver congestion and heart failure. 

“For this to be done, Stanley’s heart was accessed using specialized catheters and wires through the jugular vein in his neck, while the procedure was guided by fluoroscopy. We deployed a stent which would lift the tumour up and open the blood vessel, from within the vessel itself.  

“We are pleased that the trans-atrial stent was successfully deployed and normal blood flow was restored. Stanley was able to go home the following day even though it was complex operation. This highlights one of the huge benefits of minimally invasive surgery – a low level of risk and predictable, rapid recovery for most patients.” 

Find out more about the facilities at Eastcott Referrals here.