Right atrioventricular valve malformation in dogs and cats: an electrocardiographic survey with emphasis on splintered QRS complexes

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine Vol. 11; no. 4; pp. 226 - 230
• Main Authors: Kornreich, B.G. (Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.), Moise, N.S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-07-1997; Wiley
• Subjects: Animals; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - diagnosis; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - physiopathology; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - veterinary; Atrial Fibrillation - diagnosis; Atrial Fibrillation - physiopathology; Atrial Fibrillation - veterinary; Breeding; CARDIOPATHIE; Cat Diseases - diagnosis; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - physiopathology; CATS; CHAT; CHIEN; COEUR; CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES; CORAZON; Dog Diseases - diagnosis; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - physiopathology; DOGS; Electrocardiography - methods; Electrocardiography - veterinary; ENFERMEDADES CARDIACAS; Female; GATO; GENETIC DISORDERS; HEART; HEART DISEASES; Heart Rate - physiology; Heart Valve Diseases - diagnosis; Heart Valve Diseases - physiopathology; Heart Valve Diseases - veterinary; HEART VALVES; Male; PERRO; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Sex Characteristics; TRASTORNOS GENETICOS; Tricuspid Valve - abnormalities; Tricuspid Valve - physiopathology; TROUBLE GENETIQUE
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1997.tb00095.x

The purposes of this study were 2‐fold: (1) to determine the prevalence of splintered QRS complexes (Rr', RR', rR', rr') and other electrocardiographic abnormalities in dogs and cats with congenital right atrioventricular valve malformation (RAVM) and (2) to determine if the Labrador Retriever was at greater risk for RAVM and splintered QRS complexes. EKGs from 39 dogs and 6 cats with echocardiographically diagnosed RAVM were studied retrospectively. Splintered QRS complexes were commonly found in affected Labrador Retrievers (9 of 19, 47%), non‐Labrador Retrievers (12 of 20, 60%), and cats (4 of 6, 67%). Right ventricular enlargement was most commonly detected by precordial leads (CV6LL[V2], CV6LU[V4]) in the dogs and by the standard limb leads in the cats. Arrhythmias were uncommon. The Labrador Retriever was significantly overrepresented (P < .001) in the RAVM group when compared to the general hospital population (50% versus 8%). Males were also significantly overrepresented (P < .01). It was concluded that splintered QRS complexes are a distinctive and common electrocardiographic finding in dogs and cats with RAVM. Moreover, this congenital cardiac defect is most common in the Labrador Retriever, although this breed does not have proportionately more or less splintering of the QRS complexes than other breeds.