Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How pre-surgery ECG changes anesthesia plans for healthy dogs
By Bustamante, Rocío et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2024·Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Impact of preanaesthetic electrocardiogram on decision making and modification of anaesthetic protocols in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of healthy dogs undergoing surgery had their heart activity checked with a pre-anesthetic electrocardiogram (ECG) to see if it would affect their anesthesia plans. Out of 228 dogs, 72 showed some heart rhythm issues, and 11 of those had their anesthesia protocols adjusted based on the ECG results. While only a few dogs needed further heart tests (echocardiography), the ECG helped identify potential problems that could influence anesthesia safety. This suggests that checking heart activity before surgery can be beneficial for some dogs.
People also search for: dog pre-anesthetic ECG · dog heart problems before surgery · anesthesia protocol changes in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This retrospective observational study explored the impact of preanaesthetic electrocardiogram (ECG) assessment on preoperative echocardiography requests and modifications to a standardised anaesthetic protocol in healthy dogs. METHODS: A total of 228 healthy dogs with no previously diagnosed heart disease that underwent general anaesthesia at Complutense Veterinary Teaching Hospital from December 2017 to June 2018 were included. Preanaesthetic ECGs were assessed for abnormalities, and the findings were documented. The number of dogs requiring echocardiography, based on ECG findings, and the echocardiography results were recorded. All anaesthesia-related decisions were documented. RESULTS: Overall, 72 dogs (31.6%) exhibited ECG abnormalities. Echocardiography was requested for five dogs (2.2%). The anaesthetic protocol was changed in 11 dogs (15.3% of those with ECG abnormalities). P wave disturbances, ventricular premature complexes and impulse conduction issues were abnormalities that prompted echocardiography. Bradycardia and electrical impulse conduction abnormalities influenced protocol modifications. LIMITATIONS: The limited sample size meant that it was not possible to investigate potential correlations between demographics and ECG alterations. CONCLUSIONS: Preanaesthetic ECG screening was useful for promoting echocardiography and influencing anaesthesia plans in a subset of dogs. Despite this, further assessment of the impact of routine use of non-targeted preoperative ECG on anaesthesia-related outcomes is warranted.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38975620/