Retrospective evaluation of clinical, clinicopathological and echocardiographic findings associated with survival in 108 dogs with cardiac tamponade

The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic findings of dogs with cardiac tamponade and their prognostic value. Medical records of 108 dogs undergoing pericardiocentesis were reviewed. The median survival time was 44 days (range 0.5-1455). Males were over-represented (P = 0.03). Mixed-breed dogs were under-represented (P = 0.003), while Golden retrievers were over-represented (P = 0.01). The latter were significantly (P = 0.004) more likely to have “echo-negative” cardiac tamponade. Factors significantly (P ≤ 0.02) and positively associated with 30 day survival included an ability to ambulate or ascites at presentation, presentation to and pericardiocentesis performed by the Cardiology Service, normal femoral pulse intensity, longer inter-pericardiocentesis intervals and undergoing pericardectomy. Thirty-day survival and complication rates were not associated with the pericardiocentesis approach (i.e., choosing the right vs. the left hemithorax, P = 0.17). The pericardial fluid volume drained correlated positively and significantly (r = 0.77; P < 0.0001) with the echocardiographically measured apex-to-pericardial distance: on average, for every 1 cm measured, 125 mL of pericardial fluid was drained. Dogs presenting with cardiac tamponade had a poor long-term prognosis; however, Golden retrievers, non-pale, ambulatory and ascetic dogs, dogs selected for pericardectomy and those with longer inter-centesis intervals had a longer median survival time. The hemithorax from which pericardiocentesis was performed did not affect survival or complication rates.