Electrocardiographic findings in 130 hospitalized neonatal calves with diarrhea and associated potassium balance disorders.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hyperkalemia in neonatal diarrheic calves can potentially result in serious cardiac conduction abnormalities and arrhythmias.

Objectives

To document electrocardiographic (ECG) findings and the sequence of ECG changes that are associated with increasing plasma potassium concentrations (cK⁺ ) in a large population of neonatal diarrheic calves.

Animals

One hundred and thirty neonatal diarrheic calves (age ≤21 days).

Methods

Prospective observational study involving calves admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital.

Results

Hyperkalemic calves (cK⁺ : 5.8-10.2, blood pH: 6.55-7.47) had significantly (P < .05) longer QRS durations as well as deeper S wave, higher T wave, and higher ST segment amplitudes in lead II than calves,

SUBMITTER: Trefz FM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6060331 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature