Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with prolonged ventricular fibrillation saved by biphasic
By Bright, Janice M & Wright, Bonnie D·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2009·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Successful biphasic transthoracic defibrillation of a dog with prolonged, refractory ventricular fibrillation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old female Australian Heeler went into ventricular fibrillation (a serious heart rhythm problem) after waking up from anesthesia following a pacemaker surgery. Despite attempts to revive her with traditional defibrillation shocks and medications, nothing worked. Finally, a single biphasic defibrillation shock successfully restored her normal heart rhythm, saving her life. This case highlights how biphasic defibrillation can be more effective than older methods in critical situations.
People also search for: dog heart problems after surgery · Australian Heeler defibrillation · how to treat dog ventricular fibrillation
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of spontaneous ventricular fibrillation in a dog in which biphasic defibrillation was life saving. CASE SUMMARY: Ventricular fibrillation occurred in a 7-year-old female Australian Heeler during recovery from anesthesia following pacemaker implantation. Resuscitative efforts including immediate delivery of transthoracic monophasic defibrillation shocks of escalating energy and administration of vasopressors were unsuccessful. However, a single biphasic shock restored sinus rhythm despite prolonged duration of the arrhythmia. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: This case suggests greater efficacy of biphasic defibrillation compared with traditional monophasic defibrillation. In this dog the newer, biphasic technology was life saving after monophasic shocks failed repeatedly to terminate ventricular fibrillation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19691513/