Avaliação Semiológica e Diagnóstico em Pequenos Animais - Aula 5 a 5.1

Summary

In this educational video, the instructor discusses the semiological examination of the circulatory system in animals, focusing on identifying clinical manifestations of cardiovascular diseases. Key points include the importance of assessing patient history (species, age, sex, breed, and environment) in diagnosing conditions like congenital heart disease or heartworm. The session covers symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, ascites, and syncope, which can indicate heart failure or other circulatory issues. The lecturer also highlights the significance of understanding heart physiology, using diagnostic tools, and addressing acute cases with proper treatment to stabilize patients before further assessment.

Takeaways

• 😀 The clinical assessment of the circulatory system starts with a general physical examination, which includes inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
• 😀 Patient history (such as species, age, sex, race, and environment) is crucial in guiding clinical suspicions and can help identify or rule out specific cardiovascular conditions.
• 😀 Cardiovascular diseases, such as dilated cardiomyopathy or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, can be more common in specific breeds, sexes, and age groups of animals.
• 😀 Diseases like dirofilariosis are common in coastal areas, while Chagas disease is more prevalent in northeastern regions of Brazil due to the presence of their respective vectors.
• 😀 Differentiating between right-sided and left-sided heart failure is essential in understanding the clinical signs of congestive heart failure in animals.
• 😀 Signs like dyspnea, tachypnea, and orthopnea may appear in cardiopathies, with the animal often adopting a specific position to aid breathing in severe cases.
• 😀 Heart disease in animals may cause symptoms such as dry, noisy cough, which can be triggered by an enlarged left atrium or left ventricular insufficiency, among other causes.
• 😀 Ascites (abdominal fluid accumulation) may occur in heart failure, particularly when there is right-sided heart involvement, leading to liver congestion and fluid buildup.
• 😀 Syncope (fainting) in animals can result from insufficient oxygen and energy supply to the brain, often associated with cardiovascular conditions like pulmonary stenosis or arrhythmias.
• 😀 Animals with chronic heart disease may experience weight loss, often due to metabolic changes and increased catabolism, especially in severe cases of the disease.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the class discussed in the script?

The class focuses on the specific semiological examination of the circulatory system, particularly the clinical manifestations related to cardiovascular diseases.

What role does the initial patient history (resenha) play in the examination?

The patient history helps in identifying important factors like species, age, sex, race, and environment, which assist in forming clinical suspicions and can guide further investigation into cardiovascular diseases.

How does the age of an animal affect the suspicion of cardiovascular diseases?

In younger animals, congenital heart diseases, such as congenital heart murmurs, are suspected, while in older animals, acquired heart diseases are more likely to be considered.

Which cardiovascular diseases are more common in male dogs compared to females?

Endocardiosis and dilated cardiomyopathy are more common in male dogs than in females.

What are some of the environmental factors that influence cardiovascular diseases in animals?

Environmental factors such as geographic location influence the prevalence of diseases like dirofilariasis, which is more common in coastal regions, and Chagas disease, which is more common in northeastern regions.

What is the significance of differentiating between right-sided and left-sided heart failure?

Differentiating between right-sided and left-sided heart failure is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment, as the clinical manifestations and causes of failure on each side of the heart differ.

What is orthopnea, and what does it indicate in a patient?

Orthopnea is a position adopted by the animal, where it sits with outstretched forelimbs, opens its mouth, and breaths heavily. This posture is a sign of severe respiratory distress often associated with cardiovascular conditions.

What is the typical heart rate range for dogs and cats?

The typical heart rate for dogs is between 60 and 180 beats per minute, while for cats, it ranges from 140 to 240 beats per minute.

What does the presence of a cough in a cardiopathic animal usually indicate?

A cough in a cardiopathic animal is often caused by conditions such as left atrial enlargement, left ventricular insufficiency, or dirofilariasis, and it tends to be dry, noisy, and can mimic vomiting.

What is ascites, and what does it signify in cardiovascular disease?

Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which can indicate right-sided heart failure. It results from fluid congestion due to impaired circulation in the heart, leading to fluid leakage into the abdomen.