Surgical management of an intrapericardial cyst causing right‐sided congestive heart failure in a young dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

This case report details the diagnosis, surgical management and long‐term follow‐up of an intrapericardial cyst in a young Akita, expanding on the limited veterinary literature on this condition. Unlike most reported cases, this cyst was intimately associated with the aortic structures rather than the pericardial apex or fatty stalk. The patient also exhibited a congenital umbilical hernia, reinforcing a potential embryological link. Despite financial constraints preventing advanced imaging, successful subtotal pericardectomy was achieved through thorough clinical evaluation and surgical expertise. A right lateral thoracotomy was used, providing excellent visualisation as an alternative approach to the more common median sternotomy. The extended follow‐up of over 1000 days highlights the durability of this approach, demonstrating excellent long‐term quality of life without ongoing cardiac medications. This case underscores the feasibility of surgical management in resource‐limited settings while emphasising the need for further research into minimally invasive techniques and advanced imaging modalities.