Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Right atrioventricular atresia and ventricular septal defect in a foal.
- Journal:
- The Cornell veterinarian
- Year:
- 1987
- Authors:
- Wilson, R B & Haffner, J C
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A one-week-old Arabian foal was found to have a rare heart condition called right atrioventricular atresia (where the heart's right atrioventricular valve is missing) along with a ventricular septal defect (a hole between the heart's lower chambers). Since birth, the foal had been weak and had a bluish tint to its skin, and it sometimes had trouble breathing when stressed. An examination after death showed that the left side of the heart was enlarged while the right side was underdeveloped, and the two lower chambers of the heart were connected by the defect near the aortic valve. Unfortunately, the treatment options for this serious condition were not successful.
Abstract
Right atrioventricular atresia with a ventricular septal defect, a rare congenital cardiac anomaly of either animals or man, was diagnosed in a one week old Arabian foal. The foal had been weak and cyanotic since birth, sometimes becoming dyspneic when stressed. Necropsy revealed a dilated and hypertrophied left ventricle with the right ventricle being small. The right atrioventricular valve was absent. The right and left ventricles communicated via a septal defect which was located immediately adjacent to the aortic valve.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3568688/