Page 374 - Feline Cardiology

390 Section M: Pulmonary Arterial Disorders

arterial pressures using a cardiac catheter introduced mation from other species, identification of a treatable
through the jugular vein. Such measurements are not or reversible cause, positive response to such treatment,
routinely undertaken in cats both because diagnosis and and milder degrees of pulmonary hypertension should
treatment of an underlying cause appears to be more be associated with a more favorable prognosis. Since this
clinically applicable and rewarding, and because per- is a syndrome comprised of many different causes, the
forming such measurements may create a risk of sub- expected outcomes are likewise varied. In human patients
stantial iatrogenic problems (particularly as general with pulmonary hypertension, mean pulmonary arterial
anesthesia is generally needed for catheterizing the pul- pressure, right atrial pressure, and pulmonary vascular
monary arteries of cats). resistance are inversely proportional to survival.

Treatment REFERENCES
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