2018 Volume 2 Issue 1 Pages 6-12
A 9-year-old male Jack Russell terrier presented to the JASMINE veterinary cardiovascular medical center for evaluation of a right atrial cardiac mass. He was suffering from dyspnea due to ascites and syncope. Physical examination showed abdominal distension and edema of the legs. No metastatic finding was observed in thoracic radiography, and abdominal radiography suggested ascites. Echocardiography revealed a right atrial mass, tricuspid regurgitation, reduction of right ventricular volume, and mitral valve regurgitation. We performed surgical debulking to improve right-sided congestive heart failure, together with mitral valve repair to prevent mitral valve regurgitation. During the operation, the tumor was found to adhere to the right atrial wall and atrial septum. Invasion of the tumor to the anterior and posterior vena cava was also observed. Bleeding was found in the middle lobe of the right lung on thoracotomy. Histopathological examination revealed that the right atrial mass was hemangiosarcoma and the bleeding trace in the lung was an early metastatic lesion. After pathological diagnosis, adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin was started. The clinical signs improved temporarily and good QOL was maintained. At 50 days after surgery, ascites was detected, and pleural effusion appeared on the 57th postoperative day. Although improvement of respiratory condition was obtained by draining the pleural effusion, he died after collapsing on the 58th postsurgical day. The patient was able to maintain good QOL after surgery until ascites was again observed. In this case of right heart failure due to a mass in the right atrium, surgical debulking of the tumor was useful to temporarily improve right-sided congestive heart failure.
