Echocardiographic detection of pulmonic valve rupture in a horse with right-sided heart failure

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 198; no. 5; p. 880
• Main Authors: Reimer, J.M. (University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA), Reef, V.B, Sommer, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.1991
• Subjects: Animals; CABALLOS; CARDIOPATHIE; CASE REPORTS; CHEVAL; COEUR; CORAZON; ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY; Echocardiography - veterinary; Echocardiography, Doppler - veterinary; ECHOGRAPHIE; ECHOGRAPHY; ECOGRAFIA; Electrocardiography - veterinary; ENFERMEDADES CARDIACAS; HEART; HEART DISEASES; Heart Failure - diagnostic imaging; Heart Failure - etiology; Heart Failure - veterinary; HEART VALVES; Horse Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Horse Diseases - etiology; HORSES; Male; Pulmonary Artery - injuries; Pulmonary Valve - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary Valve - injuries; Rupture
• ISSN: 0003-1488; 1943-569X
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.1991.198.05.880

Pulmonic valve rupture was determined to be the cause of severe right-sided heart failure in a 20-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. A flail in the intermediate pulmonic valve cusp was detected by 2-dimensional echocardiography. Significant pulmonic and tricuspid valvular regurgitation were confirmed by Doppler echocardiography. Despite treatment, the horse's condition deteriorated, and euthanasia was performed. At necropsy, a tear in the pulmonary artery extending into the right valve cusp and a tear at the base of the intermediate valve cusp were identified at the junction of the right and intermediate pulmonic valve cusps. Careful echocardiographic evaluation of the pulmonic valve is warranted for horses with right-sided heart failure, for which more common causes cannot be found.