Key result
Echo-identified mass in dogs with pericardial effusion linked to ~98% shorter median survival.
Why the study?
Clinical findings, treatment, and outcomes in dogs with pericardial effusion require characterization to inform prognosis and management.
Does subtotal pericardiectomy improve survival in dogs with echo-negative pericardial effusion compared to no surgery?
Cohort (n=143)
Does subtotal pericardiectomy improve survival in dogs with echo-negative pericardial effusion compared to no surgery?
Absolute Event Rate: 26% vs 1068%
In dogs with pericardial effusion, the absence of an echocardiographic mass and treatment with subtotal pericardiectomy are associated with significantly longer survival times.
Echo findings may stratify prognosis in canine pericardial effusion; hypothesis-generating for prospective validation of management strategies.
A retrospective study of 143 dogs with pericardial effusion is presented, including a statistical analysis of survival time. Cases were classified into those in which a mass was seen on echocardiography (echo-positive) and those in which no mass could be identified (echo-negative). Forty-four dogs were echo-positive and 99 were echo-negative. The median survival time (MST) was 1068 days for echo-negative dogs and 26 days for echo-positive dogs. Dogs with a history of collapse were more likely to present with a mass on echocardiography. Those presenting with collapse had an MST of 30 days compared with 605 days for those without collapse. Echo-negative dogs tended to present with ascites and generally had a larger volume of pericardial effusion. The median survival for dogs presenting with ascites was 605 days compared with 45 days for those without ascites. Among echo-negative dogs, 64 per cent had a relapse of their effusion. Subtotal pericardiectomy was performed in 31 echo-negative dogs. The procedure had a perioperative mortality of 13 per cent but provided a favourable long-term prognosis. Dogs undergoing pericardiectomy had a median survival of 1218 days compared with 532 days for those not undergoing surgery.
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Johnson et al. (2004) conducted a cohort in pericardial effusion (n=143). Echocardiographically identified mass (echo-positive) vs. No mass identified (echo-negative) was evaluated on Median survival time (days). Dogs with pericardial effusion and an echocardiographically identified mass had a shorter median survival time (26 days) compared to those without an identified mass (1068 days).
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