Long-term follow-up of dogs with patent ductus arteriosus.

Postocclusion survival data from dogs with left-to-right shunting patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) was available from 80 dogs, diagnosed from 1990 to 2000. Of these, 37 had undergone a procedure to close the ductus and were re-evaluated at the time of this study; clinical data from the follow-up examination was compared with that from the original examination. Radiographically, the right ventricle remained apparently enlarged, and the aortic bulge associated with dilation of the descending aorta did not disappear after closure. On M-mode echocardiography, left ventricular chamber diameter in diastole and systole and left ventricular posterior wall in systole decreased significantly. Mitral endocardiosis was a common feature. Residual flow was evident in 46 per cent of the animals. Late closure occurred in 8 per cent of the dogs, and trivial recanalisation in 19 per cent. The maximum survival time postclosure was 168 months and, after non-occlusion, 114 months, suggesting that dogs with PDA follow an unpredictable course. However, there was a significant difference in survival times between the corrected and non-corrected group.