Case Studies

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

Hunter Image

Hunter

Case Background

Name: Hunter
Age: 9yr
Sex: Male, castrated
Breed: Golden retriever

Clinical History

Please review Hunter’s clinical history.

Patient presented to the emergency room 12hrs after an acute onset of collpase.  The owners report that he was still weak/lethargic but gradually improving.  Mucous membranes were pale and mild ascites was noted on abdominal POCUS.  An arrhythmias was also noted on cardiac auscultation.  

ECG

View Hunter’s electrocardiogram
What abnormalities are present on this ECG?
View an annotated image of Hunter’s ECG highlighting the relevant findings. Relevant Findings: There are only 2 normal sinus beats on this strip (blue arrows) with normal P-QRS-T wave morphology. The other QRS complexes in this strip (red arrows) are wide and bizarre, and are not preceded by a P-wave. This combination of findings suggests that the impulses are ventricular in origin, and do not represent normal sinus beats. There are unrelated P-waves “moving across” the ventricular complexes and not related to the ventricular rhythm, indicating AV dissociation (black arrow). The ventricular rate is faster than what is identified with typical ventricular escape rhythms (135-170bpm), but somewhat slower than would be expected for a true ventricular tachycardia in the dog (although different cardiologists use different heart rate cut-offs for this designation). If the heart rate is within physiological limits, some use the term ‘slow’ V-tach to describe this rhythm, but accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIVR) is usually preferred.

 

Discussion & Treatment


Discussion: While heart disease should be investigated, in many cases, the presence of accelerated idioventricular rhythm is often suggestive of non-cardiac illness. This rhythm is often identified in patients with gastric-dilatation volvulus, systemic infection/inflammation, or intra-abdominal disease such as splenic/hepatic mass lesions or adrenal disease. Treatment/management: The treatment for an accelerated idioventricular rhtyhm is debatable, and varies among cardiologists, internists and critical care specialists. Lidocaine can be given IV as an initial treatment, and electrolyte status should be checked and corrected, especially potassium deficiencies. However, many elect not to treat and monitor for adverse hemodynamic consequences (hypotension, altered mentation, etc). Furthermore, AIVR may not be responsive to lidocaine. Because this type of rhythm disturbance is frequently associated with acute illness, it is often a transient arrhythmia, and long term treatment is not always unnecessary.  
Scroll to Top

What are you looking for