Introduction

• Presence of pericardial effusion:
  • Particularly if cardiac tamponade and cardiovascular and respiratory compromise are present.
  • Idiopathic form identified in guinea pigs.
  • Secondary to cardiac disease: reported in guinea pigs with chronic heart failure.
  • Secondary to neoplasia.
• Trauma: uncommonly reported in exotic animals.
• Sampling of pericardial fluid for cytology Cytology: fine needle aspirate and/or microbial culture and sensitivity in pericardial disease: pericarditis (bacterial, fungal, inflammatory, migrating foreign body).

Uses

Advantages

• Allows rapid reduction of increased pericardial pressures associated with pericardial effusion:
  • Acute management of clinical signs associated with cardiac tamponade and/or respiratory compromise.
• Relatively non-invasive and low risk with sufficient expertise.

Disadvantages

• Risk of cardiac puncture or pulmonary laceration.
• Chemical restraint (sedation or general anesthesia Anesthesia: protocols) is usually required:
  • Increased anesthetic risk as majority of exotic animals requiring pericardiocentesis present with cardiovascular and/or respiratory compromise.
• Risk of further hemorrhage in cases of hemorrhagic pericardial effusion due to coagulopathy or cardiac trauma.

Requirements

Preparation

Procedure

Aftercare

Outcomes

Prognosis

• Varies depending on etiology.
• Prognosis can be guarded to poor if underlying cardiac disease or neoplasia identified.
• Idiopathic pericardial effusion in guinea pigs typically resolve without complications after a single pericardiocentesis procedure.

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Quinton F J, Guillon L & Ruel Y (2014) Three cases of pericardial effusion in guinea pigs. Point Veterinaire 45, 56-61 VetMedResource.
• Schnellbacher R, Olson E E & Mayer J (2012) Emergency presentations associated with cardiovascular disease in exotic herbivores. J Exotic Pet Med 21 (4), 316-327 PubMed.
• Heatley J J (2009) Cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, and disease of rodents and small exotic mammals. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 12 (1), 99-113 PubMed.
• Dzyban L A, Garrod L A & Besso J G (2001) Pericardial effusion and pericardiocentesis in a guinea pig (Cavia porcellus). JAAHA 37 (1), 21-26 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Macphail C & Fossum T W (2018) Surgery of the Cardiovascular System. In: Small Animal Surgery E-Book. 5th edn. Ed: Fossum T W. Mosby, USA.
• Monnet E (2017) Pericardial Surgery. Ins: Veterinary Surgery: Small Animal Expert Consult - E-BOOK. 2nd edn. Eds: Johnston S A & Tobias K M. Elsevier, USA.
• Brown D, Gaillot H & Cunningham S (2015) Heart. In: Atlas of Small Animal Ultrasonography. Eds: Dominique P & Marc-Andre D A. Wiley-Blackwell, USA.