Electrocardiographic markers of myocardial conduction and repolarization in Boxer dogs / Marcadores eletrocardiográficos de condução e repolarização miocárdica em cães da raça Boxer

ABSTRACT: Electrocardiographic markers have been used in people to classify arrhythmogenic risk. The aims of this study were to investigate electrocardiographic markers of conduction and repolarization in Boxers and non-Boxer dogs, and compare such findings between groups. Ten-lead standard electrocardiograms of Boxer dogs and non-Boxers recorded from 2015 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs >/ 4 years of age and weighing > 20kg were included. Animals with valvular insufficiencies, congenital cardiopathies, cardiac dilation, suspected systolic dysfunction, biphasic T-wave, bundle branch blocks, and those receiving antiarrhythmics were excluded. Electrocardiographic markers of conduction, QRS duration (QRSd) and dispersion (QRSD), and repolarization (corrected QT interval, Tpeak-Tend, JT and JTpeak), as well as derived indices, were measured. Two hundred dogs met the inclusion/exclusion requirements, including 97 Boxers (8.1±2.5 years old; 30±7kg) and 103 non-Boxer (8.8±2.5 years old, 30±8kg). QRSd and QRSD, and repolarization markers in lead II and left precordial lead V4 were considered similar between groups. Dispersion of late repolarization on lead rV2, Tpeak-Tend interval, was considered longer in Boxers (45±8ms vs 38±10ms, P=0.01). The Tpeak-Tend/JTpeak and the JTpeak/JT also differed between groups. Our results indicate that the dispersion of myocardial late repolarization in lead rV2 is slower in Boxers than other dog breeds.(AU)

Marcadores eletrocardiográficos têm sido estudados em seres humanos para estratificação do risco arritmogênico. Os objetivos deste estudo foram investigar os marcadores eletrocardiográficos de condução e repolarização miocárdica em Boxers e em cães de outras raças, e comparar tais resultados entre os grupos. Para tal, a eletrocardiografia convencional de 10 derivações registradas de 2015 a 2018 foram avaliadas de maneira retrospectiva. Cães com idade igual ou superior a 4 anos e pesando > 20kg foram incluídos. Animais com insuficiência valvar, cardiopatias congênitas, dilatação cardíaca, suspeita de disfunção sistólica, onda T bifásica, bloqueio(s) de ramo(s), ou aqueles que recebiam antiarrítmicos foram excluídos. Variáveis eletrocardiográficas de condução, como a duração e dispersão do complexo QRS (QRSd e QRSD, respectivamente), e repolarização (intervalo QT corrigido, Tpico-Tfinal, JT e JTpico), bem como índices derivados, foram mensurados. Duzentos cães que se adequaram aos critérios de inclusão/exclusão foram incluídos, 97 Boxers (8,1±2,5 anos; 30±7kg) e 103 não Boxers (8,8±2,5 anos; 30±8kg). O QRSd e o QRSD, e os marcadores de repolarização nas derivações II e V4 foram similares entre os grupos. O marcador de dispersão da repolarização tardia na derivação rV2, Tpico-Tfinal, foi considerado mais longo no Boxers (45±8ms vs 38±10ms, P=0.01). O Tpico-Tfinal/JTpico e o JTpico/JT também diferiram entre os grupos. Nossos resultados indicam que a dispersão da repolarização miocárdica tardia na derivação precordial direita, rV2, é mais lenta no Boxer do que nas outras raças.(AU)

Heart rate variability and arrhythmias evaluated with Holter in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease / Variabilidade da frequência cardíaca e arritmias detectadas pelo exame Holter em cães com degeneração valvar mitral

Cardiac diseases promote alterations in the autonomic control of the heart, leading to an increase in heart rate and, as a result, a decrease in heart rate variability (HRV).The aim of this study was to evaluate if the development of heart failure secondary to degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) concurs with changes in autonomic modulation of heart rhythm which are assessed by long electrocardiography examination (Holter). Dogs were evaluated by clinical examination and echocardiography in order to be categorized into the following groups: Control (healthy; n=6), DMVD (disease without heart failure; n=8), and DMVD heart failure (disease with heart failure; n=13). Arrhythmias and frequency domain HRV were determined by Holter. Diseased animals, when compared to healthy, had significantly lower total power, which indicates overall HRV. DMVD heart failure dogs also showed other disturbances such as high incidence of supraventricular arrhythmias, high heart rate, little amount of pauses (2.0s long between consecutive heartbeats), longer time in tachycardia, shorter time in bradycardia, low high frequency (parasympathetic control), and high low frequency (sympathetic and parasympathetic control) when compared to control (p<0.05). In DMVD dogs, Holter-derived variables changed with the development of heart failure...

As cardiopatias cursam com alterações do controle autonômico do coração, resultando em taquicardia e consequente diminuição na variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC). O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se o desenvolvimento de insuficiência cardíaca secundária à degeneração valvar mitral (DVM) leva a alterações no controle autonômico do coração, as quais podem ser determinadas pela eletrocardiografia contínua (Holter). Cães foram distribuídos em grupos experimentais após avaliação clínica e ecocardiográfica da seguinte maneira: controle (saudáveis; n=6), DVM sem insuficiência cardíaca (n=8) e DVM com insuficiência cardíaca (n=13). Arritmias e VFC foram determinadas pelo Holter. Animais portadores de DVM, quando comparados ao controle, apresentaram diminuição significativa da potência total, a qual é representativa de toda a VFC. Somente cães doentes e com insuficiência cardíaca apresentaram incidência elevada de arritmias supraventriculares, frequência cardíaca aumentada, pequena quantidade de pausas superiores a 2,0s entre batimentos consecutivos, permanência por mais tempo em taquicardia do que em bradicardia, diminuído índice de alta frequência (indicativo de controle parassimpático) e elevado índice de baixa frequência (indicativo de controle simpático e parassimpático), quando comparados ao controle (p<0,05). Assim, conclui-se que, em cães portadores de DVM, as variáveis obtidas com o Holter apresentam-se alteradas devido ao desenvolvimento de insuficiência cardíaca...

Premature ventricular contractions and apparent hypertension during anesthesia in an ostrich.

Premature ventricular contractions and apparent hypertension were seen in an adult ostrich anesthetized with isoflurane. The ostrich had septic joints and was anesthetized to allow joint lavage. The premature ventricular contractions occurred at a rate of 1 to 2/min, with a brief period of 12 to 15/min, and were not treated with any antiarrhythmic drugs. Normal blood pressures for awake or anesthetized adult ostriches are not readily available, but blood pressures in this bird were higher than in other ostriches measured with the same technique. Systolic pressures ranged from 199 to 249 mm of Hg, diastolic pressures from 107 to 177 mm of Hg, and mean pressures were from 165 to 220 mm of Hg during isoflurane anesthesia of approximately 45 minutes' duration. Recovery from anesthesia was complicated, although the ostrich died 12 days later from mycotic pneumonia.

[Electrocardiography in the horse. (2). Disorders of impulse formation and impulse conduction]. / Elektrokardiographie beim Pferd. (2). Erregungsbildungs-und Erregungsleitungsstörungen.

The cardiac arrhythmias, classified in disturbances of impulse formation and conduction disturbances, their genesis and clinical significance are described and illustrated with electrocardiograms, registered with the bipolar chest leads.

Cardiac arrhythmias associated with multiple trauma in dogs.

Premature ventricular contractions and ventricular tachycardia were detected in 10 dogs 1 to 48 hours after trauma. All dogs were treated aggressively if the arrhythmias became severe. One dog died, 8 were discharged with stable cardiac rhythm, and 1 was euthanatized. Necropsy revealed gross and microscopic lesions of acute myocardial necrosis, probably of ischemic origin. Cardiac arrhythmias were associated with thoracic trauma, neurologic injury, severe shock, and/or extensive tissue trauma.

Electrocardiography in the horse. (A report of findings in 138 horses).

Over a period of approx. 3 years, electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded from 138 horses referred as patients to the Medical Clinic. Of these, 22 horses (approx. 16 per cent) has ECG alterations. The 22 ECG's revealed a total of 29 ECG abnormalities. The most frequent ECG alteration was incomplete AV block, that was seen in 9 horses (31 per cent of the ECG abnormalities). Abnormal (i.e. broad, tent-like and, sometimes, inverted) T waves and deviations of the ST segment were seen each in 5 ECG's from 7 horses, 3 of which had both abnormalities which were associated with severe underlying disease (colic, enteritis, pneumonia, strangles a.o.). Premature ventricular beats were seen in 3 horses, two of which had serious cardiovascular dysfunction whereas the third showed no signs of cardiac disease. Atrial fibrillation was observed in two horses. Both were treated with chinidine sulphate but a conversion to sinus rhythm was not achieved in either case. Other ECG abnormalities observed in the study were, parasystole (1 horse), sinus arrhythmia (2 horses), sinoatrial block (1 horse) and wandering pacemaker (1 horse). Each abnormality is discussed with regard to its clinical significance and diagnosis. Cardiac murmurs were detected on auscultation of 26 horses (approx. 19 per cent). The murmurs in 15 horses were short and faint sounds most of which were diastolic. They were considered of no importance. Eleven horses, on the other hand, had distinct, loud (grade 4 or 5), holosystolic or holodiastolic murmurs that were considered pathological. Eight of these horses had actual signs of cardiac disease. Cardiac vector distribution in patients with ECG abnormalities or murmurs showed no systematic differences from vectors in horses showing no cardiac abnormality.

Electrocardiographic interpretation of thiobarbiturate-induced dysrhthymias in dogs.

The cardiac dysrhythmia occuring most commonly during intravenous administration of thiamylal sodium is ventricular bigeminy (ventricular premature depolarization coupled to the preceding sinus beat). Electrocardiographic tracings obtained during thiamylal-induced dyshythmias must be interpreted accurately if an accurate prognosis is to be give. Ventricular bigeminy seemed to originate in the ventricle, distal to the bundle of His. When ventricular premature depolarization was late in diastole, occuring simultaneiously with the next sinus-conducted impulse, a fusion beat resulted. The resultant ventricular bigeminy appeared as: (1) alternating ventricular premature dipolarizations, (2) an electrical alternans, and (3) alternating preexcitation syndrome. This dysrhythmia was associated with palpable alternating strong and weak frmoral arterial pulse. The likelihood that ventricular dysrhythmias will be caused by thiamylal is closely related to dose, concentration, and rate of administration. In a 23-month period, clinical occurrence of ventricular bigeminy during induction of anesthesia with thiamylal was approximately 4%.

Cardiac Arrhythmias in the horse.

Electrocardiograms were obtained from normal horses and from horses with cardiac or other organic disease that affected the cardiac rhythm. Tracings were obtained from a base-apex bipolar monitor lead, with the negative electrode attached to the skin in the right jugular furrow and the positive electrode attached to the skin on the ventral medline, beneath the apex of the heart. Each arrhythmia was discussed relative to importance and probable cause.

Cardiac monitoring during exercise tests in the horse. 3. Changes in the electrocardiogram during and after exercise.

Changes that occur in the equine ECG during and after exercise have been described and compared with resting ECG's obtained from the same horses. When the speed of work equals or is greater than "three-quarter pace" (i.e. "even time" or 200 metres in 15 seconds) the high heart rates developed cause the loss of ECG waveforms that are readily discernible at rest. Although differences in the waveforms between horses with normal and abnormal resting ECG's have been observed, the more definitive useful information is the fact that abnormal horses showed significantly higher heart rates than normal horses at a particular speed of work. When this occurs in combination with a resting ECG classified as borderline or abnormal and the exercise ECG shows positive, low amplitude, broad rounded T waves or transient bursts of sine-waves suggestive of ventricular flutter, racing performance is likely to be impaired. Although more work needs to be done and improvements in technology are necessary, the exercise ECG has potential for improving understanding of physical fitness and the significance of resting cardiac abnormalities.

Arrhythmias in dogs associated with epinephrine and thiamylal anesthesia.

Sinus tachycardia bigeminy, ventricular rhythm, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation are produced by relatively small intravenous doses of epinephrine in nonanesthetized dogs and in dogs anesthetized with thiamylal sodium. Origin of the abnormal beat in coupled bigeminal rhythms generated from the bundle o of His or above. Increases in arterial blood pressure may predispose to arrhythmia formation during thiamylal anesthesia.

Antiarrhythmic effects of diazepam during coronary artery occlusion in dogs.

The ventral interventricular branch of the left coronary artery was ligated in a 2-step operation in 10 dogs whose electrocardiograms and systemic arterial blood pressures were then monitored during the next 7 days. Monitoring was done in awake dogs given 1 mg of diazepam per kilogram of body weight (intravenously administered in 3 dogs and orally in 7). Because ventricualr ectopic activity was greatest during the interval of 10 to 48 hours after ligation, the antiarrhythmic activity of diazepam was recorded during this 38-hour interval. After administration of diazepam by either route, frequency of ventricular ectopic beats decreased from 98 to 80%. THIS REDUCTION BETAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION AND PERSISTED FOR ONLY 5 MINUTES; REDUCTION BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AFTER THE ORAL ADMINISTRATION AND PERSISTED 4 TO 6 HOURS. Systemic arterial blood pressure decreased only after the intravenous administration. It is concluded that diazepam is effective in reducing the frequency of ventricular ectopic activity after occlusion of major branches of coronary arteries, that diazepam works independent of alterations in systemic arterial blood pressure, and that orally administered diazepam prolongs antiarrhythmic activity. Possibly, the adjuvants present in the parenteral form of diazepam reduce antiarrhythmic activity by being, themselves, arrhythmogenic.

Observations on the T wave of the equine electrocardiogram.

The paper describes changes observed in the T wave and T vectorcardiogram in horse after various periods of exercise. Using radiotelemetry and a bipole lead all horses showed negative T waves immediately after exercise. In some of them this was followed by a markedly positive T deflection. Possible reasons for these changes are briefly discussed.