Open AccessPossible Late Potentials in 4 Dogs with Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia
Author(s) -
Calvert Clay A.,
Kraus Marc,
Jacobs Gilbert,
Kushner Lynne
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1998.tb02102.x
Subject(s) - medicine , qrs complex , ventricular tachycardia , cardiology , signal averaged electrocardiogram , tachycardia , ventricular fibrillation , fibrillation , electrocardiography , anesthesia , atrial fibrillation
Signal‐averaged electrocardiograms (SAEKGs) were performed on 4 dogs with sustained ventricular tachycardia. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of SAEKGs were consistent with the presence of late potentials. Two of the 4 dogs subsequently died suddenly, and ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation were observed in 1 dog. High‐frequency QRS durations (75–90 milliseconds), duration of low amplitude (less than 40 μV) signals during the terminal QRS complex (LAS 40 ) (28–40 milliseconds), root mean square voltages of the terminal 40 milliseconds of the QRS complex (RMS 40 ) (124–6.5 μV), and root mean square voltages of the terminal 30 milliseconds of the QRS complex (RMS 30 ) (13–2.1 μV) differed from results obtained in 68 of 70 control dogs. Echocardiographic data suggested dilated cardiomyopathy in 2 dogs and the cause of the arrhythmia in 2 dogs was not determined. The SAEKG may be a useful adjunct in identifying a subset of dogs with ventricular tachyarrhythmias that are at high risk for sustained ventricular tachycardia and sudden death. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive accuracies of the technique remain to be determined.