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- Author or Editor: Roberto Santilli x
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Abstract
Objective—To characterize the electrocardiographic features of the atrial repolarization (Ta) wave in dogs with third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block.
Sample—ECGs of 36 dogs with third-degree AV block and no identifiable structural heart diseases.
Procedures—Standard 12-lead ECGs were acquired with a digital system, and measurements were manually edited.
Results—A Ta wave was detectable in all dogs for at least 1 ECG lead. The Ta wave had negative polarity in leads I, II, III, and aVF and positive polarity in leads aVL and aVR, with a mean electrical axis of −114.26°. Mean duration and mean amplitude of the Ta wave in lead II were 140.2 milliseconds and −0.09 mV, respectively, with the ratio for the Ta-to-P wave duration of 2.3 and the ratio of Ta-to-P wave amplitude of −0.35. Significant correlations were found between the Ta wave duration and duration of the P-Ta interval, Ta wave amplitude and the ECG lead, Ta wave duration and body weight, and duration of the P-Ta interval and atrial rate. Measurements of the Ta wave were repeatable.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Measurements of the Ta wave in dogs with third-degree AV block were repeatable. The values for the Ta wave reported here can be used as reference values for dogs with AV conduction disturbances and an echocardiographically normal atrial size. Further studies are needed to validate these results in dogs with structural heart diseases.
Abstract
Objective—To evaluate the diagnostic value of an implantable loop recorder (ILR) in dogs with unexplained syncope.
Design—Prospective case series.
Animals—12 dogs with recurrent unexplained syncope.
Procedures—An ILR was surgically inserted in a pocket created in the subcutaneous tissues of the left hemithorax of each dog. The ILRs were programmed for manual and automatic activation, and event analysis and programming were performed at 3-month intervals and after each syncopal episode.
Results—The ILR was manually activated in 7 of 12 dogs at least once within 45 to 218 days (median, 120 days) after implantation. Four dogs had syncopal episodes associated with sinus tachycardia followed by sinus bradycardia and asystolic pauses. Two dogs had ventricular tachycardia, and 1 dog had sinus node dysfunction with prolonged sinus arrest that coincided with loss of consciousness and falling. Four dogs had no additional syncopal episodes after implantation of the ILR. In the remaining dog, the owner was unable to activate the ILR during the only syncopal episode observed for that dog after ILR implantation. In all 12 dogs, analysis of ECG traces after automatic activation of recording revealed normal cardiac rhythms.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Data gained after manual activation of an ILR provided valuable diagnostic and prognostic information in almost all dogs with unexplained syncopal episodes by confirming or disproving an association between syncope and arrhythmias. However, detection of disturbances in cardiac rhythm after automatic activation did not appear to improve the diagnostic value for an ILR implanted in dogs.
Abstract
Objective—To histologically identify glomerular lesions in dogs infected with Leishmania organisms.
Animals—41 dogs (17 sexually intact males and 14 sexually intact and 10 ovariohysterectomized females) that had positive results when tested for leishmaniosis as determined by use of serologic evaluation (indirect fluorescent antibody test, titers of 1:80 to 1:640) and direct microscopic identification of the protozoal organisms.
Procedure—Urine samples were collected by use of cystocentesis and examined by qualitative SDSagarose gel electrophoresis (AGE). All dogs had nonselective (glomerular) or mixed (glomerular and tubular) proteinemia. Specimens were obtained from each dog during ultrasound-assisted renal biopsy and used for histologic examination. Each specimen was stained with H&E, periodic acid–Schiff, Goldner's trichrome, methenamine silver, and Congo Red stains. Specimens were adequate for evaluation when they contained at least 5 glomeruli/section, except for specimens stained with Congo Red in which 1 glomerulus/section was adequate.
Results—Examination of renal biopsy specimens revealed various glomerular lesions in all dogs and interstitial or tubular (or both) lesions in 23 of 41 (55%) dogs.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Glomerular lesions that develop in dogs during infection with Leishmania organisms can be classified histologically as mesangial glomerulonephritis, membranous glomerulonephritis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and focal segmental glomerulonephritis. Tubulointerstitial histopathologic conditions were not observed as the primary lesion, despite being evident in 23 of 41 (55%) dogs. Use of SDS-AGE for qualitative evaluation of proteinuria and successive collection of specimens during renal biopsies following diagnosis of nonselective glomerular proteinuria provides the possibility for early identification of renal lesions. (Am J Vet Res 2003;64:558–561)
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess recording accuracy of right atrial and ventricular depolarization during 12-lead ECG when precordial lead V1 was positioned at each of 5 locations on the thorax of dogs with various thoracic conformations.
ANIMALS
60 healthy client-owned dogs.
PROCEDURES
20 dogs were allocated to each of 3 groups (brachymorphic, mesomorphic, or dolichomorphic) on the basis of thoracic conformation. Each dog remained unsedated and was positioned in right lateral recumbency for a series of five 12-lead surface ECGs, with V1 located adjacent to the sternum in the fifth intercostal space (ICS; control), at the costochondral junction (CCJ) of the right first ICS (1st-R), at the CCJ of the right third ICS, at the right third ICS where the thorax was the widest, and at the CCJ of the left first ICS. Electrocardiographic variables were compared among the 5 ECG tracings.
RESULTS
When V1 was at the control location, the P wave was positive for all dogs; however, consistent recording of right atrial and ventricular depolarization (ie, R wave-to-S wave ratio [R/S] < 1) occurred more frequently for brachymorphic dogs (16/20) than for dolichomorphic (7/20) and mesomorphic (6/20) dogs. When V1 was at the 1st-R location, the P wave was negative for most dogs, and R/S was < 1 for the majority of dogs in the brachymorphic (19/20), mesomorphic (17/20), and dolichomorphic (16/20) groups. The median R/S for V1 at the 1st-R location was significantly lower than that for the other 4 V1 locations.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Results indicated that placement of V1 at the 1st-R location provided correct evaluation of right atrial and ventricular depolarization in most dogs regardless of thoracic conformation.
Abstract
Objective—To evaluate the anatomic distribution and electrophysiologic properties of accessory pathways (APs) in dogs.
Design—Case series.
Animals—10 dogs with tachyarrhythmias associated with an AP.
Procedures—Each dog underwent electrophysiologic testing to determine the inducibility of documented and undocumented arrhythmias and to identify location, conduction properties, and antegrade and retrograde effective refractory periods of the APs. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was then performed.
Results—15 APs were identified; 7 dogs each had a single AP, and 3 had multiple APs. Fourteen of the 15 APs were right-sided (6 right free wall, 4 posteroseptal, 3 midseptal, and 1 anteroseptal), and 1 was left-sided (left free wall). All APs conducted in an all-or-none fashion. Unidirectional retrograde conduction was observed in 11 APs, and bidirectional conduction was observed in 4. All documented tachyarrhythmias could be induced during electrophysiologic testing; atrial fibrillation was also inducible in 2 dogs. Mean ± SD cycle duration of orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia was 215.80 ± 44.87 milliseconds. Mean shortest R-R interval during atrial fibrillation was 247.33 ± 83.17 milliseconds.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that in dogs, most APs are right-sided, had unidirectional retrograde conduction, and are associated with various arrhythmias, including orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia and atrial fibrillation without evidence of pre-excitation.
