Case records of 30 dogs in which valvular pulmonic stenosis (PS) was treated by balloon dilation were reviewed retrospectively. Physical examination, thoracic radiographs, 9-lead ECG, echocardiography, and Doppler studies were performed in all dogs. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography were repeated after 24 h and 1 year after treatment. Dogs were divided into 2 groups based on their valvular anatomy on echocardiography and aortic : pulmonary ratio: 18 had type A PS with normal annulus diameter and aortic : pulmonary ratio 1.2, and 12 had type B PS with pulmonary annulus hypoplasia and aortic : pulmonary ratio 1.2. Most dogs in the type B group were brachycephalic and had no poststenotic dilatation on thoracic radiographs. Of the dogs with type A stenosis, 100% survived valvuloplasty with resolution of clinical signs. At 1-year follow-up, 94.4% were still alive and remained asymptomatic. Of those with type B stenosis, 66.6% had favorable outcome postvalvuloplasty. At 1-year follow-up, 66.6% of dogs were alive, and resolution of clinical signs was obtained in 50%. This study revealed the immediate and long-term efficacy of balloon valvuloplasty in dogs with PS.

Case records of 30 dogs in which valvular pulmonic stenosis (PS) was treated by balloon dilation were reviewed retrospectively. Physical examination, thoracic radiographs, 9-lead ECG, echocardiography, and Doppler studies were performed in all dogs. Twodimensional and Doppler echocardiography were repeated after 24 h and 1 year after treatment. Dogs were divided into 2 groups based on their valvular anatomy on echocardiography and aortic : pulmonary ratio: 18 had type A PS with normal annulus diameter and aortic : pulmonary ratio Յ1.2, and 12 had type B PS with pulmonary annulus hypoplasia and aortic : pulmonary ratio Ͼ1.2. Most dogs in the type B group were brachycephalic and had no poststenotic dilatation on thoracic radiographs. Of the dogs with type A stenosis, 100% survived valvuloplasty with resolution of clinical signs. At 1-year follow-up, 94.4% were still alive and remained asymptomatic. Of those with type B stenosis, 66.6% had favorable outcome postvalvuloplasty. At 1-year follow-up, 66.6% of dogs were alive, and resolution of clinical signs was obtained in 50%. This study revealed the immediate and long-term efficacy of balloon valvuloplasty in dogs with PS.Key words: Echocardiography; EchoDoppler. Pulmonic stenosis (PS) is one of the most common congenital heart defects in dogs, 1-5 especially in the English Bulldog, Mastiff, Fox Terrier, Samoyed, Miniature Schnauzer, Cocker Spaniel, and West Highland White Terrier.1-6 A hereditary form of pulmonary valve dysplasia has been found in the Beagle 7,8 and Boykin Spaniel. 9 Both genders may be affected, but male Bull Mastiffs and English Bulldogs more commonly are affected than females of these breeds. 3-6Patterson et al 7,8 described the pathologic features of the hereditary form of pulmonary valve dysplasia in a colony of Beagles. They found a type 1 pulmonary valve dysplasia similar to the ''typical'' form of PS in human beings, 10 in which the valve leaflets appear slightly thickened, and the commissures fused with a central orifice. Type 2 pulmonary valve dysplasia is characterized by moderate to severe thickening and hypoplasia of valve leaflets and obstruction of the orifice by redundant valve tissue. In the same study, intermediate forms of PS were found, thereby indicating that the 2 types of pulmonary valve dysplasia are not distinct entities. 7Valvular dysplasia is the most common form of PS in dogs. [4][5][11][12][13] It often is present together with type 2 pathologic features (ie, hypoplasia of the annulus, 4 asymmetry or eccentricity of the valve sinus, 4 and a fibrous ring just at the base of the valve 13 ). In brachycephalic breeds, such as the English Bulldog and Boxer, PS can be associated with a single coronary artery that originates from the right Valsalva sinus and di- Sasso, Via Donatello 26, 20131 Milan, Italy. Submitted December 16, 1998; Revised March 6, 2000, December 1, 2000, and February 2, 2001 Accepted May 7, 2001 [11][12][13] with indirect measurement of a gradient can be used. Doppler-derived gradients are 40-50% highe...

Two‐dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and M‐mode echocardiography were used to image the heart of 13 clinically healthy cats. Seven awake cats and six cats tranquilized with a combination of acetylpromazine and ketamine were studied. Six cats were studied by 2DE on 3 consecutive days to assess repeatability of the study. Long‐axis and short‐axis echocardiographic tomograms were obtained from the right parasternal location, and these images were used to determine internal cardiac dimensions, ventricular and septal wall thicknesses, repeatability of the study, and interobserver variability. Some but not all parameters were significantly (P< 0.05) related to body weight. Significant correlations (P <0.05) were found between measurements obtained by long‐axis and by short‐axis image planes. Comparison of parameters measured by 2DE and M‐mode echocardiography demonstrated minimal differences between mean values. Repeatability of the 2DE study was good with 14 of 16 parameters having a mean percent error less than 10%. Interobserver variability was acceptable for some but not all parameters. The study indicates that repeatable 2DE tomograms can be obtained in the cat and that quantitation of cardiac anatomy is possible with this imaging technique.