PHONOCARDIOGRAPHIC AND ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN A COW TREATEDFOR IDIOPATHIC ATRIAL-FIBRILLATION

A 4-year-old, 600-kg, Holstein-Friesian embryo-donacow was admitted fo r an antecedent of facial hemiplegia of less than 1 day's duration. Ca rdiac arrhythmia was detected by auscultation. Atrial fibrillation (AF ) was confirmed by electrocardiography. In this case, all tests indica ted that the AF could not be correlated with organic or functional tro ubles; therefore, it was termed ''idiopathic AF.'' Conversion of the A F to sinusal rhythm was attempted through the use of quinidine sulfate . Side effects such as muscular tremors, blepharospasms, and ptyalism were observed 30 minutes after the beginning of infusion. At 150 minut es, as conversion to normal sinusal rhythm appeared, a paroxysmic cris is occurred. Quinidine administration was immediately discontinued and replaced by a sodium bicarbonate solution. The animal stood up 20 min utes after the end of bicarbonate administration. Although hypokalemia and hypocalcemia were present 6 hours after treatment, they were no l onger apparent 24 hours later. One month later, no relapse had occurre d and milk production had increased.