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Arrhythmias after Blunt Heart Trauma in Cats

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Treatment

 

Your cat will be given fluid therapy with electrolytes (if needed) and  prescribed painkillers. Oxygen therapy should be given if your cat is hypoxemic. If pneumothorax (air free in the chest cavity - outside the lungs) is present, it will be treated.  Antiarrhythmic therapy will only be given if your cat has AIVRs and clinical signs of arrhythmia. 

 

Living and Management

 

Arrhythmias due to blunt trauma tend to resolve spontaneously within 2-3 days of the beginning of treatment. Anti-arrhythmic therapy can be discontinued after 2-5 days.  Although dangerous arrhythmias occasionally complicate blunt trauma, the prognosis for a full recovery usually depends on the severity of extracardiac (outside the heart) injury.

 

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