ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC COMPARATIVE STUDY IN THE DOG OF WAVE AMPLITUDE IN STANDING POSITION AND IN RIGHT LATERAL RECUMBENCY

Abstract

Recording an electrocardiographic trace is made more difficult in a recumbent position by the fact that the patient tends to resist the procedure because of stress or breathing problems. This study compares the values of electrocardiograms parameters obtained from the same subject by using the right recumbency position and the standing position. The aim was to demonstrate that although wave amplitude can vary according to the patient’s position, it is not clinically significant. The study was carried out on a total of 36 dogs, healthy, free from pericardiac collections, of both sexes, from a variety of races and ages. Each was subjected to an electrocardiogram (conventional leads) while awake and in both positions. The statistical study, by Student t test for dependent samples, does not reveal significant differences between electrocardiograph results obtained in both positions, with a significance level of 0.05 for a 2 tails test. Electrical noise cannot be completely avoided, but it can be noticeably lowered in base conditions of lesser adrenergic discharge. Sternal recumbent previous studies have compared electrocardiograms from clinically normal dogs obtained in the position and the right lateral recumbency position, showing differences in amplitude which are significant in research terms. The findings of the present study do not allow us to conclude that one of these parameters varies significantly from one position to another. Evaluating the results from the clinical point of view, we observe that in no case was the interpretation different. We conclude from this that electrocardiograms taken in the standing position are equivalent to those taken in the right recumbency position, in normal dogs. Each clinic may thus use the position which best suits the circumstances of its patient, without running the risk of compromising the repeatability of the results.