High-tech solution ends Heidi’s fainting spells
Press release
19 March 2007
Surgeons at the University of Melbourne’s Veterinary Clinic and Hospital at Werribee have commenced feline pacemaker operations – a probable first for Victoria.
The first recipient is Heidi, a 15-year-old domestic short-haired cat which had experienced fainting spells for about four months.
Blood tests and X-rays showed no abnormalities, so Heidi was referred to Dr Carolyn O’Brien, the only registered cat specialist in Victoria, and the Veterinary Hospital’s Senior Registrar in Small Animal Medicine.
“A 24-hour ECG revealed that Heidi’s heart stopped beating for short periods (arrhythmia), reducing the amount of blood flowing to the body and resulting in her fainting,” reports Dr O’Brien.
“As there is no medication to prevent the condition, and the risk of sudden death from an arrhythmic episode is significant, fitting a pacemaker was recommended,” she says.
Veterinary surgeon and senior lecturer Dr Glenn Edwards fitted the pacemaker in a two-hour-long operation.
Dr O’Brien says that because a cat needs an especially small pacemaker a paediatric unit was fitted between Heidi’s abdominal muscles, with wires leading through the diaphragm, directly into the heart.
“When the arrhythmia occurs, the pacemaker gives a little electrical stimulus which keeps the heart beating.
“Heidi is now doing well and is back at home free of her fainting episodes.”
Dr O’Brien says dogs have been fitted with pacemakers for around 15 years, but fitting a pacemaker is still a rare operation for cats, especially in Australia.
For further information please contact the Marketing Manager, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Tel: 8344 7844 or email: vet-communications@unimelb.edu.au