CardioBird

Welcome back to our series, “The Turning Point,” where we spotlight real cases from your colleagues that demonstrate how an ECG can dramatically alter patient management. 

 

The Patient: A 5-month-old, male Domestic Shorthair kitten presenting for routine neutering.

The Presenting Signs: The kitten was bright, alert, and responsive. Physical examination was unremarkable. On auscultation, the heart rhythm sounded regular with no detectable murmurs or obvious arrhythmias.

The Turning Point – The Pre-Anesthetic ECG: Following the clinic’s safety protocol, a CardioBird ECG was performed. The 30-second Lead II trace revealed a surprising finding: 17 Ventricular Premature Complexes (VPCs). Critically, these VPCs occurred at regular intervals, creating a pattern that would sound perfectly regular on auscultation. The VPCs were upright but showed significantly larger complexes than the normal beats.

 

ECG Findings & Critical Difference:
The ECG revealed two crucial pieces of information that auscultation missed: the presence of VPCs and their morphology. The high frequency (34 VPCs/minute) was concerning in a young animal. The fact that they were uniform (all looking identical) suggested a single, irritable focus within the ventricle. Most significantly, their occurrence at regular intervals created a deceptively regular rhythm to the ear.

This “turning point” finding immediately changed the anesthetic plan. The scheduled surgery was postponed. Further diagnostic tests were recommended to investigate underlying causes of the ventricular arrhythmia in a young kitten, such as electrolyte imbalances, structural heart disease, or inflammatory conditions. The ECG provided the objective evidence needed to avoid proceeding with an elective anesthetic in a patient with an unstable cardiac rhythm, significantly reducing peri-operative risk.

 

Your Takeaway:
This case reinforces why a pre-anesthetic ECG is a vital safety tool:

• The Ear Can Be Deceived: A regular rhythm on auscultation does not rule out significant arrhythmias. Ventricular patterns can occur at fixed intervals, masking their presence.

• Morphology Matters: The ECG provides critical information beyond just rhythm, including the size and shape of complexes. In this case, the large, upright VPCs suggested a specific origin within the ventricles.

• Age is Not a Guarantee: While often associated with older patients, arrhythmias can occur in young, apparently healthy animals. A pre-anesthetic ECG is a simple, fast step for ensuring safety across all age groups.

By making a pre-anesthetic ECG your standard, you move beyond what the stethoscope can tell you. You are part of a global community using technology to uncover hidden risks, ensuring the highest standard of care for every patient, even during routine procedures.

 

Have a “Turning Point” case of your own? We’d love to feature it. Share your story with us.