Anaesthetic management and complications of transvascular patent ductus arteriosus occlusion in dogs

Objective To retrospectively analyse the anaesthetic management, complications and haemodynamic changes in a cohort of dogs undergoing transvascular patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion in a tertiary referral centre (from January 2017 to August 2018). Study design Retrospective study. Animals A total of 49 client-owned dogs. Methods Anaesthetic records of dogs with PDA that underwent transvascular occlusion of the ductus were reviewed. Anaesthetic complications evaluated included tachycardia [heart rate (HR) > 160 beats minute(-1)], bradycardia (HR < 50 beats minute(-1)), hypertension [systolic arterial pressure (SAP) > 150 mmHg], hypotension [mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 60 mmHg], hypothermia (<37 degrees C) and the presence of arrhythmias. Cardiovascular variables [HR and invasive SAP, MAP and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP)] at the time of occlusion device deployment (time 0) were compared with variables at 5 and 10 minutes after deployment. Descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk test and repeated measures analysis of variance followed by a Dunnett's post hoc test were used to analyse the data (p < 0.05). Results Crossbreed dogs were the most commonly represented followed by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The median age was 8 (2-108) months, and female dogs were over-represented (65.3%). The most common American Society of Anesthesiologists score was III. Mean duration of anaesthesia was 96 +/- 26 minutes and mean surgery time was 58 +/- 21 minutes. Acepromazine with methadone was the most commonly used premedication combination (77.6%). Propofol was the most common induction agent (73.5%). General anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen in all dogs. Complications included hypotension (63%), hypothermia (34%), bradycardia (28%), arrhythmias (16%), hypertension (16%) and haemorrhage (2%). MAP and DAP increased significantly 10 minutes after device deployment compared with time 0. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Hypotension was the most common complication reported in dogs undergoing transvascular PDA occlusion. No major adverse events were documented.