title: Comparison of in-hospital versus 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography for detection of ventricular premature complexes in mature Boxers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of in-hospital electrocardiography (ECG) for detection of ventricular premature complexes (VPC), compared with 24-hour ambulatory ECG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Original study.
  
  
  METHODS
  188 Boxers > 9 months old; 31 had a history of syncope, and 157 were healthy (no history of syncope).
  
  
  METHODS
  In-hospital ECG was performed on all Boxers for at least 2 minutes. Within 7 days after the in-hospital ECG was completed, 24-hour ambulatory ECG was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The specificity of in-hospital ECG was 100% for the detection of at least 50 VPC in a 24-hour period in dogs with syncope and 93% in healthy dogs. In-hospital ECG had poor sensitivity, although sensitivity increased as the number of VPC per 24 hours increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of in-hospital ECG is highly specific for detection of at least 50 VPC during a 24-hour period. However, in-hospital ECG is insensitive, and a lack of VPC does not suggest that the dog does not have a substantial number of VPC during that same period. The use of in-hospital ECG appears to be inadequate for screening purposes and therapeutic evaluations in mature Boxers with ventricular arrhythmic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Meurs
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Spier
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hamlin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*