Pulmonary Hypertension in a Dog after Embolic Coil Placement for Interventional Occlusion of Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Abstract

An 8 month-old female Pomeranian dog was presented with major complaints of heart murmur and cardiomegaly. Diagnostic study found the left-to-right patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with moderate heart failure (ISACHC II). The PDA occlusion was successfully accomplished using a 5 mm × 3 loops embolic coil through right femoral artery. Two months later, the dog came back to clinic with marked hypotension, severe diarrhea and pleural effusion. Diagnostic study found severe pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid regurgitation. The clinical condition was controlled by the administration of sildenafil (3 mg/kg, PO, TID). However, the dog was expired by dislodged embolic coil and inconsistent medication by the owner. Postmortem study found the pulmonary hypertension was occurred by the abnormally dislodged embolic coil. Although the embolic coil is widely used for PDA occlusion in toy dogs with PDA, the more careful evaluation for the size and shape of PDA is necessary to minimize the risk of dislodgement of pre-placed coil.