Small Animal ECGs: An Introductory Guide

Small Animal ECGs : An introductory guide......Page 1
Contents......Page 7
Preface to second edition......Page 12
Preface to first edition......Page 13
About the author......Page 14
Acknowledgements......Page 15
Part 1: Understanding the electricity of the heart and how it produces an ECG complex......Page 17
1 What is an ECG?......Page 19
Formation of the normal P-QRS-T complex......Page 20
Nomenclature of the QRS complex......Page 24
Sinus arrhythmia......Page 25
Sinus tachycardia......Page 26
Sinus bradycardia......Page 27
Part 2: Abnormal electricity of the heart......Page 29
The morphology of an ectopic ventricular depolarisation......Page 31
The morphology of an ectopic supraventricular depolarisation......Page 34
Ventricular premature complexes......Page 39
Supraventricular premature complexes......Page 46
Escape rhythms......Page 47
Fibrillation......Page 50
Sick sinus syndrome......Page 56
Atrial standstill......Page 58
Heart block......Page 59
Changes associated with chamber enlargement......Page 64
Right atrial enlargement......Page 65
Abnormal mean electrical axis (MEA)......Page 66
Low-voltage QRS complexes......Page 67
Notching in the R wave......Page 68
Abnormalities of the T wave......Page 69
Hyperkalaemia......Page 71
Part 3: More advanced electrocardiography......Page 73
The six ECG limb leads......Page 75
9 Mean electrical axis explained......Page 77
How to calculate the mean electrical axis......Page 78
Right bundle branch block......Page 80
Left bundle branch block......Page 81
Left anterior fascicular block......Page 83
Intermittent ventricular aberrancy......Page 85
Atrial flutter......Page 86
Accelerated idioventricular rhythm......Page 87
Part 4: Management and treatment of arrhythmias......Page 89
Does the arrhythmia suggest the presence of an underlying condition?......Page 91
Is the arrhythmia of primary clinical significance?......Page 92
Bradyarrhythmias......Page 94
Tachyarrhythmias......Page 97
Complications......Page 104
Types of permanent pacemakers......Page 105
Hazards......Page 106
Part 5: Recording and interpreting ECGs......Page 107
Determine the rhythm......Page 109
Measure the complex amplitudes and intervals......Page 110
Electrical interference......Page 112
Movement artifact......Page 113
Incorrectly placed electrodes......Page 116
Making the connection......Page 118
Where to place the electrodes......Page 119
Positioning the animal......Page 120
Setting up and preparing the ECG machine......Page 125
Recording an ECG - a suggested routine......Page 127
Automatic vs. manual recording mode......Page 130
Interpretative software......Page 131
Multichannel vs. single channel......Page 132
Jack plug lead fitting......Page 133
Summary of features to look for in an ECG recorder......Page 134
Further reading......Page 135
Index......Page 136