Open heart surgery

Open heart surgery is a relatively new option as a treatment for various heart problems in dogs. It is only performed at a small number of referral hospitals, the Royal Veterinary college (RVC) being one of them in the UK.

Open heart surgery is a term used when the surgery occurs using a heart and lung bypass machine. Varying congenital heart defects can be corrected with this method and some acquired heart valve defects can be repaired.

Dogs being considered for open heart surgery will be thoroughly assessed and their suitability determined on many criteria including severity of heart disease, presence of secondary cardiac changes, health of other body organs and the size/age of the dog. The final decision on whether a dog is suitable will be made by the medical veterinary cardiologist, surgical veterinary cardiologist and ultimately the owner.

Open heart surgery in dogs is very much in its infancy, however the techniques are based on established methods used in human patients. Mitral Valve Repair is the most common acquired heart defect in dogs. It mainly affects smaller breeds, and it results from damage to the valves between the left atrium and the ventricle on the left side of the heart. Repairing these valves has resulted in huge improvements in dogs that had previously been managed medically but in end-stage heart failure. Many have been able to come off drugs completely and regain relatively normal cardiac output.

Many congenital heart defects such as a hole in the heart wall or stenosis of a valve can also be corrected with open heart surgery. Dogs should be at least 5 months old at the time of surgery and be otherwise well.

The cost is considerable and is off putting to many owners. Most insurance policies would not be extensive enough to cover the full amount. The operation lasts approximately 5 hours and patients can be hospitalised for as long as 2 weeks post-surgery, so that by the time they can go home aftercare is minimal. Most patients will need supportive heart medication for a period.

After thorough preoperative assessment patients deemed suitable for surgery will be placed on a waiting list.