Aspectos clínicos, diagnósticos e terapêuticos da Tetralogia de Fallot em um gato - Relato de caso

Abstract

Congenital heart diseases comprise a group of heart and large vessel anomalies present at birth. The diagnosis of these conditions is often challenging for veterinary clinicians, as many patients remain asymptomatic for long periods until they suddenly and severely develop congestive heart failure. Tetralogy of Fallot is a complex congenital heart disease, rarely diagnosed in feline patients, characterized by the concurrent occurrence of four cardiac abnormalities. The combination of these conditions promotes the diversion of deoxygenated blood into the systemic circulation, leading to cyanosis in its pathophysiology. A male mongrel cat, approximately four months old, was presented with complaints of dyspnea and cyanosis at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. During the medical history, the owner reported that the cat had already been examined by another veterinarian, who had detected a heart murmur. After stabilizing the respiratory condition, the cat underwent an echocardiographic examination that conclued the definitive diagnosis by demonstrating the four alterations that characterize Tetralogy of Fallot, which are: 1) obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract; 2) right ventricular hypertrophy; 3) ventricular septal defect; and 4) overriding aorta. Treatment included periodic phlebotomy, as well as the use of atenolol and clopidogrel. Reviewing the medical history, conducting a physical cardiovascular examination, and performing certain complementary tests are essential for diagnosing congenital heart diseases. Echocardiography is crucial for the definitive diagnosis of congenital heart diseases and is indispensable for the accurate diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot.