• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.729-734
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• 2010

An 11-year old, intact female Poodle (weighing 2.3 kg) was referred with signs of consistent coughing, dyspnea, poor exercise tolerance, and anorexia. Diagnostic imaging and laboratory studies revealed idiopathic hemorrhagic pericardial effusion complicated with ISACHC Ib stage of chronic mitral valvular degeneration. Percutaneous transcatheter pericardiotomy (PTP) was performed at the right precordium using alligator forceps with fluoroscopic guidance. Immediately after PTP, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram showed dramatic improvement of cardiac performance. Patient was released with the prescription of furosemide (1 mg/kg, bid, PO), enalapril (0.5 mg/kg, bid, PO), cephradine (20 mg/kg, bid, PO) for mild mitral regurgitation and post-management of infection. Diagnostic studies performed at 2 weeks after PTP revealed no further accumulation of pericardial effusion and improvement of clinical signs. The dog is currently medicated with enalapril and monitored regularly.