WILLOWS MENDS A BROKEN HEART! Lacey, a generally boisterous Springer Spaniel, suddenly became very lethargic and had developed a swollen tummy. An ultrasound scan showed that the swelling was due to fluid accumulating in her abdomen, and it also revealed that there was fluid in her chest and in the sac around the heart (pericardium). Once fluid builds up in the pericardium, it puts pressure on the heart and stops it working properly, which in turn results in fluid building up in the abdomen and chest. There are a number of causes of fluid build up in the pericardium, and the next step for diagnosis involves taking a sample of the fluid, both for analysis and to relieve the pressure on the heart. In Laceys case, this showed that the fluid around her heart was very bloody. An X-ray showed that, not unexpectedly, Laceys heart shadow was enlarged due to the fluid build up, but it also revealed something rather unexpected – a needle very close to the heart! A CT scan was then carried out, as this gives much more accurate detail than an X-ray. This showed that the needle, a sewing needle which Lacey must have swallowed, and which had penetrated the gullet and worked its way into the chest, had penetrated the heart muscle – needless to say, this was a very dangerous situation, and surgery was required to remove the needle to prevent more damage to the heart and to reduce the chances of any further bleeding. However, this was a potentially risky procedure, not least because of the possibility of more bleeding from the damaged heart muscle once the needle was removed. Lacey was taken to the operating theatre and her chest cavity was opened by surgical Specialist, Stephen Baines. Stephen had to find and remove the needle – fortunately the information provided by the CT scan made locating the offending foreign body far easier than finding it in the proverbial haystack! The continuous beating of the heart against the needle had caused a large crater-like hole to develop in the muscle of the heart which, thankfully, did not penetrate all the way through the heart wall. However, more importantly, there was evidence that the needle had recently also penetrated the large blood vessel (the aorta) that supplies blood from the heart to the rest of the body. This was likely to be the cause of the sudden recent bleeding and this was something that could be catastrophic if it started again. The needle was very carefully removed and, fortunately, there was no further bleeding from either the heart or the aorta. Lacey made an excellent recovery from the surgery and was discharged a few days later, a much livelier Springer than she had been beforehand! At a follow-up phone call, Laceys happy owner reported that she was doing very well at home – so well, in fact, that Lacey had largely disregarded the planned period of convalescence and was behaving as though nothing at all had happened! Laceys problem was totally unexpected and perhaps brings another meaning to the phrase ‘stabbing pains in the chest’! Pictures: 1: X-ray of the chest looking from the side, showing the needle (arrowed) next to the heart (which is partially obscured by fluid) 2: CT scan showing the same view as the X-ray with the needle (arrowed) next the heart 3: CT scan looking from above, showing a different view of the needle (arrowed) impinging on the heart willows.uk.net/news/m/news/view/419
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 15:00:01 +0000
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