Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Increasing halothane stops anesthesia heart arrhythmias in cats
By Muir, W W et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1988·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Increasing halothane concentration abolishes anesthesia-associated arrhythmias in cats and dogs.
Plain-English summary
A group of 15 cats and 6 dogs developed irregular heartbeats (ventricular arrhythmias) shortly after being put under anesthesia with halothane during surgery. By increasing the amount of halothane they received, the heart rhythms returned to normal within just a few minutes for most of the affected pets. However, when the halothane concentration was lowered back to the original level, the irregular heartbeats returned in many of the animals. This suggests that adjusting the halothane levels can help manage anesthesia-related heart issues in both cats and dogs.
People also search for: cat anesthesia heart problems · dog arrhythmia during surgery · halothane anesthesia effects on pets
Abstract
Fifteen cats and 6 dogs developed ventricular arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia. Halothane was administered by precision vaporizer, using a semiclosed anesthetic system. Cardiac arrhythmias were diagnosed within 5 to 10 minutes after a surgical plane of anesthesia was achieved. Arrhythmias in 9 of 15 cats and 3 of 6 dogs were converted to sinus rhythm by increasing the inspired halothane concentration. Conversion to sinus rhythm occurred within 4 minutes. Cardiac arrhythmias were reestablished in 8 of 9 cats and 2 of 3 dogs, after decreasing the inspired halothane concentration to its original value. Increasing the inspired halothane concentration can convert anesthetic-associated ventricular arrhythmias to sinus rhythm in dogs and cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3410790/