Electrocardiography - a stepwise approach

Abstract

[Extract]

Use of ECG:

• Monitoring of animals under general anaesthesia

• Assessment / monitoring of acutely ill emergency / trauma patients

• Aid to diagnosis of auscultated cardiac abnormalities (e.g., tachycardia, bradycardia, dysrhythmia, murmurs, abnormally quiet, dull or displaced heart sounds)

• Aid to diagnosis of patients with obscure lethargy, exercise intolerance, weakness, syncope, seizure-like events

• Base-line assessment and onward monitoring of animals with cardiac disease as determined by history, physical examination, chest radiographs, ± echocardiography

• Recheck assessments of animals receiving potent cardiac medications

• Routine pre-anaesthetic assessment (±)

• Routine, geriatric health check (±)