title: Prevalence of perioperative arrhythmias in 50 young, healthy dogs.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the type and frequency of cardiac dysrhythmias occurring after routine ovariohysterectomy or orchidectomy in young, healthy dogs by using 2 anesthetic protocols (group I: propofol and isoflurane; group II: thiopental and halothane). Fifty dogs under 2 years of age, judged to be clinically normal by physical examination and standard electrocardiography, were evaluated by using 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography. The most common dysrhythmias in the postoperative period were 2nd degree atrioventricular block (44%), ventricular premature complexes (44%), and atrial premature complexes (32%). For study purposes, more than 100 ventricular or atrial premature complexes per 24 hours, or any occurrence of R-on-T phenomenon, ventricular or atrial tachycardia were classified as clinically significant arrhythmias. Significant arrhythmias were observed in 9 dogs in the postoperative period, 5 of which were in group I and 4 in group II. All of these dogs were under 1 year of age. The R-on-T phenomenon occurred in 4 dogs in group II and 1 dog in group I. Results from this study show that significant arrhythmias, including R-on-T phenomenon, can occur in the perioperative period in young, healthy dogs undergoing routine surgeries with both protocols used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. fduerr@colostate.edu
authors.forename: Felix M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Duerr
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Duke
authors.forename: Cindy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Shmon
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monnet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D013874:Thiopental / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007530:Isoflurane; D013874:Thiopental; D006221:Halothane; D015742:Propofol