Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pulsus alternans during halothane anesthesia in a dog
By Bailey, J E et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·1993·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pulsus alternans during halothane anesthesia in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog with a blockage in the stomach was put under anesthesia for surgery when the vet noticed a strange difference between the heart's electrical signals and the pulse felt in the leg. To investigate further, they measured the dog's blood pressure directly and found it was fluctuating in strength. This condition, known as pulsus alternans, was identified, and the vet switched the anesthesia to a different type called isoflurane. After this change, the dog's condition improved and stabilized.
People also search for: dog anesthesia problems · pulsus alternans in dogs · dog surgery blood pressure issues · isoflurane anesthesia for dogs
Abstract
An adult dog with pyloric obstruction was anesthetized with thiamylal and halothane for surgical revision. When an ECG was attached, the QRS-complex rate was noted to differ dramatically from the peripheral pulse rate. A dorsal pedal arterial catheter was introduced, and direct arterial pressure measurements revealed a blood pressure waveform that alternated in amplitude. Blood pressure and ECG traces were recorded, and the condition was diagnosed as pulsus alternans. The inhalation anesthetic was changed to isoflurane, and the condition was resolved.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8488681/