General anaesthesia of a cat with tetralogy of Fallot for ovariohysterectomy

Abstract

Tetralogy of Fallot is a rare congenital cardiac disease affecting a very small percentage of cats. The prognosis is usually poor, with right to left shunting of blood causing deoxygenated blood to enter the circulation, resulting in cyanosis, lethargy and exercise intolerance. Some cases with mild to moderate shunting may survive to maturity. A 9-year-old Burmese cat with asymptomatic tetralogy of Fallot was anaesthetised for an elective ovariohysterectomy. The patient was premedicated with methadone and dexmedetomidine intravenously. Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with alfaxalone infusion, with mechanical ventilation of 100% oxygen. Local analgesia, fentanyl and meloxicam were used for intraoperative analgesia and buprenorphine post operatively. The patient made a full recovery without complications.