Recently, our team performed surgery to remove heartworms from a local dog.
The 12-year-old dog presented with fainting on exertion (syncope), which was attributable to severe pulmonary hypertension (increased lung pressure). Pulmonary hypertension is a common condition secondary to heartworm disease.
Our challenges remained:
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Risk of shock and blood clot formation.
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Severe pulmonary hypertension may impair hemodynamic stability and oxygenation during anaesthesia.
Mitigation:
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Drugs to reduce clotting were administered.
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Our anesthetic team also performed invasive blood pressure measurement and capnography. A catheter was inserted into an artery to accurately measure arterial blood pressure, while the dog’s exhaled air was connected to a device to measure and display the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Arterial blood pressure monitoring is not a routine procedure for general anesthesia as it is technically difficult and requires a special monitor.
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Using echocardiography and fluoroscopy, we removed five worms from the dog. The dog recovered from anesthesia uneventfully.
