ABERRANT BRANCH OF THE BRONCHOESOPHAGEAL ARTERY MIMICKING PATENT DUCTUS-ARTERIOSUS IN A DOG

A 13-month-old, male Cavalier King Charles spaniel was presented becau se of episodes of hind limb weakness. The presence of a continuous, ma chinery murmur over the left heart base suggested a diagnosis of paten t ductus arteriosus (PDA), even though typical radiological findings w ere absent. Echocardiography demonstrated dilatation of the main pulmo nary artery and mild volume overload of the left heart. At surgery, a vessel thought to be an aberrant branch of the bronchoesophageal arter y was observed entering the dilated, main pulmonary artery segment. Fr emitus was palpable at this point, suggesting that the aberrant vessel communicated with the systemic arterial circulation. Ligation of the vessel abolished the machinery murmur, the palpable fremitus, and the dog's clinical signs. Atypical aortopulmonary communications of this k ind must be considered in the differential diagnosis of PDA.