Tag Archives: congestive heart failure
Iatrogenic overhydration: diagnostic nightmaresville
The inconvenient bottom line is that there is nothing intrinsic about the appearance of effusions or tissue oedema caused by fluid overload to distinguish them from those caused by congestive heart failure or any other pathological process. We have to infer the probable cause (or causes) from history, physical examination, clin path and imaging. So, cardiogenic … Continue reading
Why is this cat with a huge left atrium not in congestive failure?
This is a cat we saw last week. She presented for routine vaccination and was found to have a tachydysrhythmia. No hyperpnoea, no dyspnoea, outwardly well. This is her echocardiography. First, right long axis four chamber view: Her left atrium measures about 28mm (normal being <16mm). Technically, that falls into the ‘huge’ category. … Continue reading
Lung ultrasound: ‘flooding’ in fulminant pulmonary oedema in cats and a comparison with pneumonia
Pulmonary oedema in cats and dogs is typically characterised by increased ‘B lines’ (also known as ultrasound lung rockets or comet-tail artefacts). This is a feature of oedema in the broadest sense and is not specific to aetiology. Differential diagnosis of this phenomenon includes trauma, electrocution, acute respiratory distress syndrome/acute lung injury, overhydration, asthma, near-downing … Continue reading
Heart and gut: interactions in disease
Yesterday I saw an elderly dog with recent onset anorexia, apparent abdominal discomfort, bloody diarrhoea, and a single episode of vomiting. On examination this patient also turned out to have loud left- and right-sided systolic murmurs. And on echocardiography he exhibited findings consistent with left-sided congestive failure due to apparent mitral valve disease, secondary pulmonary … Continue reading
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