Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with colic and fast heart rhythm treated with magnesium sulfate
By Pratt, Stefanie L. et al.·Published in Equine Veterinary Education·2023·School of Veterinary Medicine and Science University of Nottingham Nottingham UK, United Kingdom·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Resolution of sustained ventricular tachycardia in a horse presenting with colic with magnesium sulfate
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 19-year-old Warmblood gelding was brought in for colic and was found to have a fast and irregular heartbeat due to sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), which can be dangerous. The horse was already receiving lidocaine, a common heart medication, but the vet also gave multiple doses of magnesium sulfate. This treatment successfully restored the horse's normal heart rhythm, and he continued to do well and was discharged after 8 days.
People also search for: horse colic treatment · ventricular tachycardia in horses · magnesium sulfate for horse heart problems
Abstract
Summary Case reports demonstrating a return to sinus rhythm from sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) are limited. VT is uncommon in horses but can be life threatening and has been reported in horses with primary gastrointestinal disease. Treatment is recommended if there is poor perfusion, if heart rate exceeds 100 beats/min, if multiform/polymorphic complexes or torsades des pointes is present. Lidocaine or magnesium sulfate is the first‐line medication. In this case, a 19‐year‐old Warmblood gelding with a history of exploratory laparotomy presented with an irregularly irregular cardiac rhythm and heart rate of 80 beats/min. ECG demonstrated VT with a heart rate of 75 beats/min. As the horse was already receiving a lidocaine bolus, the VT was treated with multiple boluses of intravenous magnesium sulfate over a period of several hours. This converted the VT to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) with heart rate of 44 beats/min and the horse remained in NSR until discharge 8 days later.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.13775