Clinical presentation, management and survival in dogs with persistent atrial standstill in the United Kingdom

Sanz-Gonzalez, Inigo, Aitken, Joanne, Pedro, Brigite, Martin, Mike, Martinez Pereira, Yolanda, Dukes McEwan, Joanna ORCID: 0000-0002-0326-8251, Bode, Elizabeth and Culshaw, Geoff (2023) Clinical presentation, management and survival in dogs with persistent atrial standstill in the United Kingdom. Journal of Veterinary Cardiology, 51. pp. 179-187.

Text Clinical presentation, management and survival of dogs with persistent atrial standstil in the United Kingdom. Sanz-Gonzalez JVC pre-proof 27Nov2023.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript Access to this file is embargoed until 27 November 2024. Download (873kB)

Abstract

<h4>Objectives</h4>To investigate the clinical and echocardiographic presentation of dogs with persistent atrial standstill (PAS), identify variables measured at first presentation that could predict their survival, and document the progression of the disease after pacing.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>Retrospective study of medical records of dogs diagnosed with PAS at three referral hospitals of the United Kingdom over seven years.<h4>Results</h4>Twenty-six dogs were diagnosed with PAS during the study period. Median age of the population was three years (range: seven months-12.5 years). The most common clinical sign was syncope (14/26). Twenty-four dogs received artificial pacemakers (PM). Major complications after PM implantation were observed in four dogs (four/24). Serial echocardiographic examinations showed that cardiac dimensions of PAS dogs with left atrial or left ventricular dilation at first presentation did not return to reference range after pacing. Further dilation of the cardiac chambers, recurrence of congestive heart failure (CHF), or development of new episodes of CHF were documented in seven, four, and 10 PAS dogs, respectively, despite pacing. Median survival time for cardiac-related deaths after PM implantation was 1512 days (18-3207). Neither CHF nor echocardiographic variables at presentation predicted survival after PM implantation in PAS dogs.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Persistent atrial standstill (PAS) is an uncommon bradyarrhythmia, occurring in young adult dogs. Affected dogs were often presented with syncope. Whilst syncope resolved, cardiac remodeling persisted after PM implantation. Long-term survival was favorable after PM implantation and was not predicted by congestive status or cardiac chamber size at first presentation.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Heart Atria, Animals, Dogs, Syncope, Heart Block, Cardiomyopathies, Genetic Diseases, Inborn, Dog Diseases, Cardiac Pacing, Artificial, Retrospective Studies, Heart Failure
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	28 Nov 2023 16:50
Last Modified:	12 Apr 2024 15:57
DOI:	10.1016/j.jvc.2023.11.016
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3177045