Some kittens are born with a hole in their heart, known as a ventricular septal defect (VSD). This causes the lungs to receive excess blood from the left side of the heart, which would normally be distributed throughout the body. If the hole is large, it causes severe left heart dilation and heart failure.

 

Normally, fixing this hole requires a complex open-heart surgery, which isn’t an option for pets in Malaysia.

 

Pulmonary artery banding is a palliative treatment to reduce blood flow to the lungs, reducing stress on the left heart and delaying heart failure. Instead of closing the hole, a band is placed around the pulmonary artery (a large artery leading to the lungs). This technique is also used in neonates or children with VSD when immediate correction through open-heart surgery is not possible. In veterinary medicine, there are only a few reported cases.

 

One of the biggest challenges of this surgery is determining the correct level of “tightness.” If the banding is too tight, it increases the workload on the right heart and reduces blood supply to the body. If it is too loose, it provides no beneficial hemodynamic effects. 

 

On 22 February 2025, we performed the pulmonary artery banding surgery in a cat with heart failure due to VSD —the first of its kind in Malaysia for a pet! 

 

 

During the surgery, there was a scary moment when the cat’s vital signs dropped, but thanks to our skilled anesthesia team, we quickly stabilized her. This shows how important it is to have experts handling heart surgeries!

 

 

Now, 10 days after the procedure, we’re thrilled to see that her heart has shrunk to a healthier size, meaning the surgery is working! Fingers crossed for her continued recovery.