Case Studies

These case studies contain detailed information on the diagnostic and treatment process for each individual animal.

Jack

Case Background

Name: Jack
Age:  6 years
Sex: Male, neutered
Breed: Domestic Shorthair, cat

Clinical History

Please review Jack’s clinical history.

  A grade II/VI systolic parasternal murmur was recently ausculted on routine examination. The owners report that clinically Jack is normal with no clinical signs suggestive of heart disease. An ECG was recorded as part of his cardiovascular evaluation.  

ECG

View Jack’s electrocardiogram (the black bar represents one second)
What abnormalities are present on this ECG?
Relevant Findings: The correct answer is sinus rhythm with right bundle branch block. The underlying rhythm is sinus rhythm. This is determined via calculation of the heart rate, determination of the cardiac rhythm, and inspection of the relationship of the P waves and QRS complexes. The average heart rate is 200 beats per minute. The rhythm is regular. There is a P wave for every QRS complex and a QRS complex for every P wave providing a diagnosis of sinus rhythm. The primary alteration with this ECG is the abnormal morphology of the QRS complexes and the associated deviation of the mean electrical axis to 240 degrees (or -120 degrees). The QRS complexes display S waves in leads I, II, III and aVF suggesting either right ventricular enlargement or right bundle branch block. The QRS duration is prolonged at 0.07 seconds suggesting a conduction delay. Therefore right bundle branch block (as opposed to right ventricular enlargement) would be the most likely conduction alteration to produce S waves in the visible leads, right axis deviation, and prolongation of the QRS complex. This ECG is sometimes mistaken for ventricular tachycardia. Ventricular tachycardia typically displays AV dissociation without a fixed relationship between the P waves and QRS complexes. View an annotated image of Jack’s ECG highlighting the relevant findings.

 

Discussion & Treatment

 
Discussion:  Sinus rhythm with right bundle branch block can be seen in normal animals. But it can also be identified in animals with myocardial disease, valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease or cardiac neoplasia. The conduction disturbance does not require specific treatment but its presence suggests the heart should be evaluated echocardiographically.
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