Anaesthetic management of three Maine Coon cats undergoing hybrid intervention for treatment of cor triatriatum sinister

Abstract

This report describes the anaesthetic management of three Maine Coon cats undergoing hybrid cutting balloon dilatation for treatment of cor triatriatum sinister. In cat 1, cor triatriatum sinister was an incidental finding during routine transthoracic echocardiographic screening. Cats 2 and 3 presented with tachypnoea and underwent preoperative therapy with diuretics and antithrombotics. All cats were premedicated with fentanyl. Anaesthesia was co-induced with midazolam and either etomidate (cats 1 and 2) or alfaxalone (cat 3). Sevoflurane, a fentanyl continuous-rate infusion and a dexmedetomidine continuous-rate infusion were used for maintenance of anaesthesia. Intravenous methadone, epidural morphine and methadone, an intercostal block and a subcutaneous wound splash with local anaesthetics complemented the analgesic protocol. Intraoperative complications included arrhythmias, bleeding, hypotension and hypothermia. Postoperative emergence delirium and haemothorax developed in two and one cat, respectively. All three cats recovered well and were discharged home.