Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heart rhythm patterns in West Highland terrier with sick sinus
By Gladuli, Andrea et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2011·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Poincaré plots and tachograms reveal beat patterning in sick sinus syndrome with supraventricular tachycardia and varying AV nodal block.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A West Highland white terrier was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome, which caused irregular heartbeats, including long pauses and episodes of rapid heart rate. The dog's condition involved varying degrees of heart block, which means the electrical signals in the heart were not functioning properly. By monitoring the dog's heart activity over 24 hours, veterinarians were able to identify specific patterns in the heart's rhythm. This information can help vets determine when to closely monitor the dog's heart health and decide on the best treatment options.
People also search for: West Highland white terrier heart problems · sick sinus syndrome in dogs · dog heart block treatment
Abstract
Using 24-h ambulatory electrocardiography, the RR intervals of all beats were determined in a West Highland white terrier with sick sinus syndrome characterized by long sinus pauses, bradycardia, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and varying degrees of atrioventricular (AV) heart block. Distinctive patterns of bradycardia and 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1 and 5:1 AV block associated with SVT were evident in the tachogram (RR interval distribution over time) and Poincaré plots (short-term heart rate variability plots of RRn versus RRn+1). These patterns differed from those of abrupt alteration in cycle length during long sinus pauses or bursts of supraventricular tachycardia. Recognition of such patterns may direct attention to time points for which close attention to the cardiac rhythm should be evaluated in the full-disclosure of the 24-h ECG recording.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21288788/