expo las vegas We're the U.S.!

as members of APSP and seeing all the news sector will in a few months in Spain.

The next week we will move to Phoenix (Arizona). There will be visiting and learning from one of the best companies in the world in the construction of pools and spas in the manufacture and distribution of equipment for swimming pools, Shasta Pools

.

Shasta Pools has been getting for years the most important prizes to the best pools in the world, the Awards of Excellence Pool.

we will tell you I stay for all the industry news pool.

Scorpio Man Pisces Woman February

The resting electrocardiogram is now a widespread technique in small animal medicine. Equipment for its implementation are relatively inexpensive and represent an investment quickly redeemable for any veterinary center. However, in order to maximize and optimize its use, is of great importance to understand its uses and what its limitations.

WHAT IS AN EKG?

The main question that we must make is in which situations is given an electrocardiogram (ECG) and which will be a poor test recommended by its low diagnostic yield and whether or not emergency situations where a path may electrocardiographic be a proper aid to decision making

Since the ECG is a test non-invasive, safe and inexpensive to use but can hardly be fruitless really serious failure. Moreover, part of the cardiovascular examination, but provides less information than echocardiography, should be performed whenever no other economic conditions.

Finally we must consider that, by its speed and simplicity, the ECG becomes almost indispensable test in the preanesthetic examination .

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM IN CLINICAL INDICATIONS OF SMALL ANIMAL

Whenever it detects a heart murmur or abnormalities on auscultation thoracic or abnormal sounds in the chest cavity. (2,4,9,11,21).

cardiac arrhythmias detected on auscultation, abnormal increases in pulse or capillary refill time (2,4,9,11).

cyanosis in boxes, syncope, transient weakness, episodic or permanent, lethargy and seizures situations, disorientation and drowsiness. (11,12,21).

cardiomegaly in cases detected by radiography. First pictures of both of chronic cough as paroxysmal dyspnea, gasping breaths constant and / or tachypnea appellant. (10,11,16).

Although in many cases the ECG is a useless test because of the emergence of more accurate tests (radiography and echocardiography), all patients will undergo a general anesthetic for any reason, benefit from an ECG prior to study can detect a simply, quickly and economically , some injuries that could endanger the life of the patient after anesthesia (11).

Even with a normal ECG is very important to remember that we can be sure that an animal has a normal heart function, however it is clear that through this review, we discovered some anomalies let us decide the most appropriate anesthetic protocol, including delay or exclude elective anesthesia in certain cases

In cases where, despite being the main problem systems can be complicated by cardiovascular changes that worsen the prognosis or complicate evolution and determine the anesthetic protocols:

- pyometra sepsis of any etiology and localization

- acute and chronic renal insufficiency of origin pre-renal, renal or post-renal,

- Endocrine diseases: feline hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism Canine Addison's syndrome and syndrome Cushing,

- Dilations gastric torsion / volvulus, gastric, intestinal obstructions and puppies with gastroenteritis hemorrhagic

- Pictures tumor, especially in cases of hemangiosarcomas or lymphoma / lymphosarcoma and in cases of splenomegaly. (4,9,11).

These cases can be very beneficial to perform checks prior to stabilization, intraoperative and immediate postoperative (48 hours).

In cases of major physical trauma (such as falls, assaults, fights and bruises chest) in addition to cardiac and respiratory examination and although these systems have a feature apparently normal, it is recommended that an electrocardiogram. (4,10,11,19).

is also indicated when we perform this test to electrolyte imbalances and acid-base that can trigger arrhythmias important, sometimes life-threatening: hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, etc. (4,9,11).

Finally we must not forget that the electrocardiogram is part of comprehensive cardiovascular examination and helps to clarify when a patient has a heart problem and what is the best treatment, is also useful to assess the evolution of these patients, once diagnosed and under treatment. (2,4,5,9,10,11).

LIMITATIONS ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY

Despite their claims do not forget that the ECG is only a representation of the electrical functioning of the heart and, in many cases it is impossible for patients with symptoms heart (coughs, convulsions, dyspnea, fatigue, ascites, etc.) have a full diagnosis only by rapid ECG.

There are many pictures of coughs due to upper respiratory problems, tracheal, bronchial or lung parenchyma, many pictures of fainting / seizures or metabolic central nervous origin, the fatigue may respond to an almost infinite number of causes and ascites may have a home kidney, liver and digestive tracts. All these situations make a patient with a problem that could be of cardiac origin, has an electrocardiographic tracing within normal limits and that the heart can not be either confirmed or ruled out. (4, 9,11). Even

most primary cardiac problems need other tests such as echocardiography (apart, of course, complete physical examination and a careful auscultation) as they may have an electrocardiogram within normal limits in the early stages as in Most cases of mitral endocardiosis. (3, 4, 9,11).

an electrocardiograph HOW TO USE?

electrocardiogram For proper first thing we must keep in mind is not stress the animal and it should be done in a quiet room with low noise and low light.

The patient's posture and placement of the electrodes have been standardized by the Convention in domestic animals: patients should be right lateral decubitus position and comfortable as possible.

In situations of severe respiratory distress or lateral critical condition can be dangerously stressful which in these cases, the electrocardiogram can be done with the animal in sternal recumbency or even station if necessary. However

is very important remember that measures of amplitudes of the waves or the detection of patterns of enlarged chambers (cardiac axis) are reliable only in the standardized position . In other positions, including station, the ECG continues to be valuable for the interpretation of rhythm.

The electrodes are fixed to the body preferably using alligator clips to which they have been filed or flattened teeth, placed below the elbows on forelegs and below the knees in the rear. The color of the electrode responds to an international code of the following way:

Yellow electrode: left forelimb. Red electrode

: right forelimb. Green electrode

: left hind limbs. Black electrode

: right hind limb.

speed may be the role of choice, choice is a veterinarian, but you should always indicate it in the ECG. to interpret it the same way, sensitivity, which usually is 10 mm = 1 mV can be used for 5, 10, 20 or whatever, but always with a clear indication in the margin of ECG (many modern computers, register all this information automatically at the top or the below).

Some of the most common devices, while allowing a misreading of the rhythm, make impossible a thorough analysis of the ECG are caused by electrical interference and those caused by patient motion.

Connecting an electrocardiogram to a poorly insulated electrical network can be solved with a review of the plugs, connecting a ground single off the electrocardiograph or other devices nearby electrical (neon tubes, centrifuges, refrigerators, etc.).

The other common problem of artifacts from respiratory movements, tremors, wheezing, etc., Has no solutions "magic" general, patience is often the best support valid.

is highly recommended to use tweezers bit traumatic, some are annoying, even cause some discomfort or pain, especially in small dogs with short hair in the underarm area and inguinal folds. Use tweezers or just bent less aggressive (with pliers) or smoothed may be a good solution. Finally, we should place them carefully and rinse in alcohol or gel carefully ensuring good contact with the skin.

sedation should generally be avoided all drugs modify in greater or lesser extent the electrocardiographic tracing. On the other hand many times the patient is unstable and sedation may aggravate the picture.

If the patient is cooperative and / or unstable it is preferable to perform an ECG in season or any position that is less stressful for the animal.

In the rare cases where the animal is properly compensated and required a full ECG may be an acceptable combination of acepromazine (0.05 mg / kg) and butorphanol (0.01 mg / kg)

CONCLUSIONS

As a final consideration, we must remember several points of interest: an electrocardiogram is a simple device to use, reasonably affordable cost for a veterinary clinic modest clinical situations in which we obtain valid and relevant data for our patients are many and varied and will hopefully be a profitable investment both from the clinical point of view as purely economic.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY

1.ACADEMY OF VETERINARY CARDIOLOGY.Cardiac diseases in the dog and cat, a diagnostic handbook.Denver.American Assotiacion.1986 Animal Hospital.

2.BAUER, TG Diagnostic approach to cardiopulmonary disorders.En: KIRK, RW Editor.Current Therapy X. Small Animal Veterinary Practice.Philadelphia.WB Co.1989 Saunders, 188-195.

3.BOLTON, GR Handbook of canine electrocardiography. Saunders Philadelphia.WB Co.1975.

4.BRAUNWALD, E; Treaty of Cardiology, 3 rd edition. American Ed - Mac Graw - Hill, 1990.

5.CALVERT, CA Cardiovascular problems, disorders of the heart rate, rhythm and pulso.En: LORENZ, MD, CORNELIUS, Medical LMEditores.Diagnóstico Small Animals. Zaragoza.Acribia.1990, 181-207.

6.CHASTAIN, CBElectrocardiography in the dog and cat.Compendium on Continuing Education.1990 JUN, 12 (6) :811-817.

7.CORNET, P. Canine.Réalisation électrocardiographie Précis d'interprétation et d'un électrocardiogramme.Maisons Alfort.Editions du Point Vétérinaire, 1985, 23-34.

8.CROW, SE, Walshaw, SO Manual of Clinical Procedures in the Dog and Cat.Philadelphia.Lippincott.1987.

9.DARKE, P. Diagnosis of Disorders Seminar Cardiacos.Proceedings of Internal Medicine and Surgery in Small Animales.1991 Sep.21-22.Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.Facultad of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas.1991.

10.EDWARDS, NJ Special systems examination, cardiovascular system. En : KIRK, R.W. , BISTNER, S.I.Editores.Handbook of Veterinary Procedures and Emergency Treatment.4 th. Edition.Philadelphia.W.B Saunders Co.1985; 335-380.

11.ETTINGER,S.J.Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Philadelphia. W.B.Saunders Co.1989.

12.FORD, R.B. Clinical Sings and Diagnosis in Small Animal Practice.New York.Churchill Livingstone.1988.

13.HERVé,D.,COLLET,M.L'électrocardiographie:technique de base d'exploration. En:COLLET,M.,LE BOBINNEC,G.Electrocardiographie et Rythmologie Canines. Maisons Alfort.Editions du Point Vétérinaire.1990;25-53.

14.JIMENEZ DE LA PUERTA, J.C.Examen cardiovascular.Veterinaria en Madrid.1991 AG;19:24-29.

15.JONES, C.L. Electrocardiography.En: TILLEY, L.P.,OWENS,J.M. Editores.Manual of Small Animal Cardiology. New York.Churchill Livingstone.1985;55-87.

16.O´GRADY,M.,DIFRUSCIA,R.,CARLEY,B.,HILL,B.Electrocardiographic evaluation of chamber enlargement. Can Vet J.1992 Mar ;33:195-200.

17.SCHLAUT,R.C.,WILLIS HURST,J.:The heart,companion handbook,7 th. ed.Mac Graw-Hill co.1990. 18.SEVERIN,G.A.Manual de cardiología veterinaria. Buenos Aires.Editorial Hemisferio Sur.1992.

19.TILLEY,L.P.,OWENS,J.;Manual of small animal cardiology.Churchill-Livingstone,New York,1985.

20.TILLEY,L.P.Essentials of Canine and Feline Electrocardiography.2nd. Edition.Philadelphia.Lea and Febiger.1985.

21.WARE, cardiovascular WATH Examination. In: NELSON, RW, Couto, CG Essentials of Small Animal Internal Medicine. St.Louis. Mosby Year Book. 1992, 3-8.

Crystal Manalo Hawaii

New Web

Imacardio: Veterinary Cardiology launches new website where you can find a complete description of our services as well as explanations of how to apply for these services. You can see in
www.imacardio.com

Congratulations to the boys www.bluefactory.es for their hard work.

hope you enjoy it as much as us.