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When the Heart Is Under Pressure

Treating Pericardial Effusion with Minimally Invasive Surgery – Stormy’s Story

How thoracoscopic surgery relieved life-threatening pressure on a Saint Bernard’s heart and gave her more healthy years with her family.

When Stormy began collapsing from fluid building up around her heart, her family feared the worst. After evaluation by multiple cardiologists, specialists at Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital diagnosed a rare condition called idiopathic pericardial effusion and performed minimally invasive surgery that relieved the pressure on her heart and gave her an excellent long-term prognosis.

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Service

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1. Case Overview

Patient Details 

Name: Stormy
Breed: Saint Bernard
Age: 8½ years at the time of treatment 

Service 

Department: Surgery
Procedure Date: Summer 2025 (confirm exact date) 

Quick Facts 

  • Recurrent episodes of pericardial effusion causing collapse 
  • Evaluated by three veterinary cardiologists before surgery 
  • Advanced imaging and echocardiography ruled out an underlying heart-base tumor 
  • Diagnosed with idiopathic pericardial effusion 
  • Treated with minimally invasive thoracoscopic pericardectomy 
  • Biopsies confirmed there was no evidence of cancer