Santilli R, Saponaro V, Carlucci L, Perego M, Battaia S, Borgarelli M. Heart rhythm characterization during sudden cardiac death in dogs.
J Vet Cardiol 2021;
38:18-30. [PMID:
34710652 DOI:
10.1016/j.jvc.2021.09.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES
Inherited or acquired arrhythmic disorders and cardiac disease have been associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) in dogs. The electrical mechanism related to death in most of these cases is unknown. This retrospective study aimed to describe arrhythmic events in dogs that experienced SCD during Holter monitoring.
ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS
Nineteen client-owned dogs that experienced SCD during Holter examination were included. Clinical records from a Holter service database were reviewed, and both the rhythm preceding death and the dominant rhythm causing SCD were analysed. Clinical data, Holter diaries and echocardiographic diagnosis were also evaluated.
RESULTS
Structural heart disease was identified in 12/19 dogs (dilated cardiomyopathy in five dogs, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in four dogs, myxomatous mitral valve disease in two dogs, and suspected myocarditis in one dog), five of which had concurrent congestive heart failure. Sudden cardiac death was related to ventricular premature complexes or monomorphic ventricular tachycardia degenerating into ventricular fibrillation in 42% of dogs, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, or torsade de pointes-like inducing ventricular fibrillation in 21%, and asystole or presumptive agonal pulseless electrical activity triggered by malignant bradyarrhythmias in 37%.
CONCLUSIONS
The most common rhythm associated with SCD in our population of dogs was ventricular tachycardia leading to ventricular fibrillation, although bradyarrhythmia-related SCD, possibly related to inappropriate vagal reflexes, was also a notable cause.
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