NEL Animal Cardiovascular Center Achieves World's First Surgical Correction of Complex VSD in Canine Patient
This veterinary milestone is highly significant, as it marks the first such case not only in Korea but also globally, with no previous reports of successful surgical treatment for complex VSDs.
The patient was diagnosed with a unique form of VSD—a single, continuous defect extending from the perimembranous to the subarterial region (Perimembranous VSD extending into subarterial region). Given that there had been no prior successful surgical cases even for typical VSDs in veterinary medicine, this breakthrough greatly expands the possibilities for surgical treatment of congenital heart disease in Korea's veterinary cardiac surgery field.
Over the past year, NEL's cardiac surgery team has gained experience through more than 50 open-heart surgeries using cardiopulmonary bypass. Based on this expertise, the team developed a thorough surgical plan. During the procedure, the complex VSD involving both membranous and subarterial regions was confirmed. The team performed incisions in the right atrium and pulmonary artery, successfully closing the defect with a bovine pericardial patch.
Immediately after surgery, the left-to-right shunt was completely resolved, and the risk of progressive regurgitation due to aortic valve prolapse was eliminated. The patient's cardiac function recovered to near-normal levels, and the long-term prognosis is considered highly favorable.
Subarterial VSDs are particularly dangerous due to the risk of aortic valve prolapse and severe regurgitation, making early surgical intervention crucial. The success of this surgery offers new hope for animals with congenital heart defects, demonstrating the potential for a surgical cure.
Dr. Tae-Heum Um, Director of NEL Animal Cardiovascular Center, stated,
"Although this was a complex defect, thorough discussion and preparation among our medical team led to a successful outcome. We will continue our efforts so that more animals with congenital heart disease can lead healthy and normal lives."
NEL Animal Cardiovascular Center is preparing an academic analysis and official report on this case, and sincerely hopes that this achievement contributes to the advancement of veterinary cardiac surgery not only in Korea, but also across Asia.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250618427466/en/
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NEL Animal Cardiovascular CenterYoon il-yong+82-31-421-7579heart@thenel.org
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