A case report of ventricular septal defect diagnosed by percutaneous cardiac catheterization at a standing position in a steer.

VSD with pulmonary hypertension in a Japanese Black steer (8 months of age) weighing about 200 kg was diagnosed mainly by the results of cardiac catheterization performed percutaneously at a standing position without sedation or anesthesia. A 5 French, 100 cm catheter inserted into the left jugular vein via a 12-gauge cannula was easily introduced into each portion of the heart, involving the pulmonary artery and the left ventricle. This diagnostic technique is little invasive, easily applicable, and quite useful for the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiac and/or pulmonary diseases in bovine practice.