title: Electrocardiography in anaesthetised red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans).
abstract: Electrocardiographic (ECG) values were measured in nine red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), anaesthetised with either ketamine, ketamine/xylazine or ketamine/midazolam, for the purpose of cardiocentesis. Lead II traces were then recorded through three cutaneous electrodes. The ECG complexes consisted of small upright P waves, larger R waves and no Q or S wave deflections, very long QT intervals, small upright T waves, and a short TP interval. No SV waves were recorded. This pattern was similar to the ECGs reported in other reptilian species, and differs from mammalian ECGs in having lower amplitude waveforms, a much longer repolarisation phase (longer ST and QT intervals), and a considerably shorter TP interval. A significant correlation was found between the heart rate and the QT and ST intervals, a lower heart rate being associated with a longer period of repolarisation without significantly prolonging the depolarisation (P, PR and QRS) intervals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Holz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holz
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D007649:Ketamine; D014426:Turtles / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007649:Ketamine