Supraventricular tachycardia following iohexol administration in an anaesthetised dog with a large jugular thrombus created by an artificial pacemaker

Authors: Sun TC, Schier M, Martinez-Taboada F
Publication: Australian Veterinary Practitioner, Volume 52, Issue 2, pp 109-114, Jun 2022
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

Animal type: Dog
Subject Terms: Anaesthesia/analgesia/sedation, Cardiology, Clinical examination
Article class: Clinical Report

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Abstract:

A 13-year-old female spayed West Highland white terrier with an existing functional artificial pacemaker was anaesthetised for computed tomography to investigate a worsening oedematous swelling in the ventral cervical region. A sudden and unexpected episode of supraventricular tachycardia, between 155 to 160 beats per minute (bpm), occurred approximately 10 minutes following intravenous administration of iohexol contrast agent (2 mL/kg) and lasted for two minutes before promptly returning to a baseline heart rate of 60 bpm. Three more identical episodes occurred subsequently. Frusemide (2.2 mg/kg) was administered twice intravenously between the first and third events. After the fourth episode, pimobendan (0.25 mg/kg) was administered intravenously and no further episodes occurred.

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