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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Single-Chamber Cardiac Pacemaker Implantation in a Donkey wi...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2021; 11(3); 746; doi: 10.3390/ani11030746

Single-Chamber Cardiac Pacemaker Implantation in a Donkey with Complete AV Block: A Long-Term Follow-Up.

Abstract: A five-month-old African jenny was presented with a history of exercise intolerance and syncopal episodes. Severe bradycardic arrhythmia due to a high-grade second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block with progression to complete AV block was diagnosed. The jenny underwent a transvenous single-chamber pacemaker implantation. The implantation procedure was performed in a lateral recumbency and the ventricular lead was inserted through the jugular vein. Positioning of the lead was guided by echocardiography. The pacemaker was programmed to VVI mode with a minimal ventricular rate of 40 pulses per minute, a pulse amplitude of 2.4 V, a pulse width of 0.5 ms and sensing amplitude of 2.5 mV. Short-term complications associated with the procedure included lead dislodgement and pacemaker pocket infection. The long-term outcome was satisfactory; the jenny showed improvement in heart function and quality of life after pacemaker implantation. The pulse generator replacement was performed twice (at nine-year intervals) and the intervention was always associated with a local inflammatory reaction around the pacing device. Cardiac examination 18 years after pacemaker implantation revealed no morphological changes in the heart; the electrode lead was still in the correct position and successful pacing and sensing of the ventricle were obtained. Regular follow-up checks are important to evaluate pacemaker function.
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Publication Date: 2021-03-09 PubMed ID: 33803127PubMed Central: PMC8000704DOI: 10.3390/ani11030746Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article presents a case where a young African donkey with severe heart complications was successfully treated using a single-chamber cardiac pacemaker, improving its quality of life over a monitored period of 18 years.

Overview of the Case

  • The study focuses on a five-month-old African female donkey (jenny) that was brought in with symptoms including difficulty exercising and fainting sessions.
  • The donkey was diagnosed with a severe bradycardic arrhythmia, a serious condition that slows the heart rate and was caused by a high-grade second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block that later progressed to a complete AV block.

Surgical Procedure and its Challenges

  • To treat this condition, a transvenous single-chamber pacemaker was implanted into the jenny. This process was performed while the jenny was laying on her side and involved inserting the pacemaker’s ventricular lead through her jugular vein.
  • The positioning of the lead was guided by the use of echocardiography, a test that allows doctors to visualize the heart and its structures.
  • Some complications were encountered during and after the procedure such as displacement of the lead and an infection in the pacemaker pocket.

Pacemaker Settings and Replacement

  • The pacemaker was programmed to work in a specific manner: minimal ventricular rate of 40 pulses per minute, a pulse amplitude of 2.4 V, a pulse width of 0.5 ms and a sensing amplitude of 2.5 mV.
  • The pulse generator in the pacemaker had to be replaced twice over a period of 18 years, with each replacement occurring at nine-year intervals. Each operation resulted in a local inflammatory response around the pacemaker.

Long-Term Outcome and Follow-ups

  • The long-term results of the pacemaker implantation were positive. The jenny’s heart function improved and her quality of life exhibited a noticeable enhancement.
  • A cardiac examination performed 18 years after the implantation did not reveal any morphological changes in the heart and the lead was still in a correct position.
  • Moreover, the pacemaker was also functioning properly, successfully pacing and sensing in the ventricle. Regular monitoring was encouraged to consistently evaluate the pacemaker’s effectiveness.

Cite This Article

APA
Sedlinská M, Kabeš R, Novák M, Kološ F, Melková P. (2021). Single-Chamber Cardiac Pacemaker Implantation in a Donkey with Complete AV Block: A Long-Term Follow-Up. Animals (Basel), 11(3), 746. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030746

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 3
PII: 746

Researcher Affiliations

Sedlinská, Markéta
  • Equine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
Kabeš, Radovan
  • Equine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
Novák, Miroslav
  • St. Anne's University Hospital, Pekařská 53, 659 91 Brno, Czech Republic.
Kološ, Filip
  • Equine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
Melková, Pavlína
  • Equine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Heun F, Niebuhr T, Gutierrez Bautista A, Wiedmann F, Verhaar N, Kästner S, Feige K, Schmidt C. Treatment of a Paroxysmal Atrioventricular Block by Implantation of a Bipolar, Single-Chamber Cardiac Pacemaker in a Donkey.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 27;13(17).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13172724pubmed: 37684988google scholar: lookup
  2. De Santis M, Seganfreddo S, Greco A, Normando S, Benedetti D, Mutinelli F, Contalbrigo L. Donkey Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability: A Scoping Review.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 25;13(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13030408pubmed: 36766295google scholar: lookup
  3. De Lange L, Van Steenkiste G, Vernemmen I, Vera L, Cromheeke KMC, Walser U, Meert H, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Successful application of closed loop stimulation pacemakers with remote monitoring in 3 miniature donkeys with syncope.. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Nov;35(6):2920-2925.
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