Sudden death of a horse with supraventricular tachycardia following oral administration of flecainide acetate. (11th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dembek, Katarzyna A.; Hurcombe, Samuel D.A.; Schober, Karsten E.; Toribio, Ramiro E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care. Volume 24:Number 6(2014:Nov./Dec.)
• Page Start: 759
• Page End: 763
• Publication Date: 2014-11-11
• Subjects: Veterinary emergencies -- Periodicals; Veterinary critical care -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/vec.12251
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-3261

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="vec12251-sec-0010" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To describe a case of supraventricular tachycardia and sudden death in a horse following administration of flecainide acetate.</p> </sec> <sec id="vec12251-sec-0020" sec-type="section"> <title>Case Summary</title> <p>An 8‐year‐old Hanoverian warmblood gelding was treated for chronic, naturally occurring, supraventricular tachycardia with digoxin, procainamide hydrochloride, quinidine sulfate, and flecainide acetate. After oral administration of flecainide, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (torsades de pointes) and ventricular fibrillation developed, leading to cardiovascular collapse and death.</p> </sec> <sec id="vec12251-sec-0030" sec-type="section"> <title>New or Unique Information Provided</title> <p>Atrial fibrillation is the most commonly diagnosed dysrhythmia associated with poor performance in horses, while atrial tachycardia is rarely documented. Here, we describe a case of sudden death in a horse with atrial tachycardia following the oral administration of flecainide acetate, after the lack of response to other antiarrhythmic drugs. Information provided in this case report is new and will make clinicians aware of the potential complications of flecainide alone or in combination with other drugs, in horses with cardiac dysrhythmias.</p> </sec> </abstract>