Use of Yunnan Baiyao and epsilon aminocaproic acid in dogs with right atrial masses and pericardial effusion.

J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2017 Jan;27(1):121-126. doi: 10.1111/vec.12529. Epub 2016 Sep 26. Murphy LA1, Panek CM2, Bianco D3, Nakamura RK4. Author information 1 Oradell Animal Hospital, Paramus, NJ, 07652. 2 United Veterinary Specialty and Emergency, San Jose, CA, 95123. 3 Advanced Critical Care, Emergency and Specialty Services, Woodland Hills, CA, 91364. 4 Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91360. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To describe the utility of Yunnan Baiyao (YB) alone or in combination with epsilon aminocaproic acid (EAC) for the treatment of dogs with echocardiographically identified right atrial (RA) masses and pericardial effusion (PE). DESIGN: Retrospective case-controlled study. SETTING: Two private practice referral hospitals. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs with RA masses and PE identified echocardiographically over a 3-year period. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There were 67 dogs identified with RA masses and PE during the study period. Sixteen dogs were treated with YB alone while 8 dogs were treated with YB in combination with EAC in addition to pericardiocentesis. Forty-three dogs were treated with pericardiocentesis alone and were considered to be the control group. There was no difference between the groups in regards to signalment, physical examination abnormalities, and diagnostic test results on presentation. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to number of pericardiocenteses performed and there were no side effects attributed to the YB or EAC in any of the dogs. Median time to recurrence of clinical signs was not significantly different between the treatment (12 d, range 1-186 d) and control group (14.5 d, range 1-277 d). The median survival of dogs treated with YB alone or in combination with EAC (18 d, range 1-186 d) was also not significantly improved compared to dogs treated with pericardiocenteses alone (16 d, range 1-277 d). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests YB alone or in combination with EAC is relatively safe but does not significantly delay recurrence of clinical signs or improve survival in dogs with RA masses and PE. Due to the small cohort size, further prospective studies evaluating these drugs and their effects on hemostasis in dogs with RA masses and PE are warranted. © Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2016.