Persistência do ducto arterioso em cães jovens

This study aimed to report three cases of dogs with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a common congenital condition in dogs characterized by the failure of the ductus arteriosus to close after birth, leading to hemodynamic changes and clinical signs such as cough, exercise intolerance, and cyanosis. The diagnosis was made based on cardiac auscultation, which revealed a continuous murmur characteristic of PDA, and was confirmed by Doppler echocardiography, which allowed assessment of the direction of blood flow, classified as classical PDA (left-to-right flow). Thoracic radiography, performed in one of the cases, revealed cardiomegaly and pulmonary vascular congestion. In two animals, the initial treatment included medications such as inotropes, diuretics, and antihypertensives, which controlled the symptoms but did not correct the condition. Surgical correction via thoracotomy was indicated and successfully performed in all the cases. Postoperative evolution was favourable in all cases, with satisfactory clinical recovery and absence of clinical sign recurrence. The analysis of the cases revealed that the diameter of the ductus arteriosus influences the age at which symptoms appear, with animals having a larger ductus showing clinical signs earlier. Additionally, the literature suggests that failure to perform surgical correction before the first year of life is associated with a significant increase in mortality, highlighting the importance of early intervention to improve the prognosis of the animals. In conclusion, surgical correction is the treatment of choice for classical PDA, and when performed early, it can lead to satisfactory recovery and resolution of clinical signs.