Atrial fibrillation management in a breeding stallion.
A 20-year-old warmblood breeding stallion presented to a University practice for semen collection and evaluation was incidentally diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF). Electrocardiogram recordings during breeding revealed inappropriately rapid tachycardia and occasional ventricular premature depolarizations/aberrant ventricular conduction. Transvenous electrical cardioversion was performed. After successful cardioversion the horse displayed supraventricular ectopy and atrial contractile dysfunction and was administered sotalol hydrochloride in an attempt to decrease the risk of AF recurrence. Supraventricular ectopy and echocardiographic evidence of atrial dysfunction gradually improved and normalized over 6 months. No direct adverse effects of the chronic anti-arrhythmic treatment were observed and libido and semen quality were unaffected. AF recurred 6 months after cardioversion and sotalol therapy was continued to control the ventricular ectopy/aberrant ventricular conduction during semen collection. Considerations regarding pathologic arrhythmias and inappropriately high heart rates in breeding stallions with AF may be similar to those in riding horses. Sotalol hydrochloride was a safe anti-arrhythmic drug in the management of this case.
Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: natalie.heliczer@gmx.net.
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Heliczer
Clinic for Equine Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Mitchell
Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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Lorello
Equine Sport Medicine Practice, Avenue Beau Séjour 83, 1410 Waterloo, Belgium.
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Dauvillier
Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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Burger
Clinic for Equine Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Schwarzwald
Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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Navas de Solis
D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D001947:Breeding; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013015:Sotalol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D013015:Sotalol
Atrial stunning; Beta blocker; Exercise arrhythmia; Long-term anti-arrhythmic therapy