Electrocardiographic findings in 130 hospitalized neonatal calves with diarrhea and associated potassium balance disorders

Background: Hyperkalemia in neonatal diarrheic calves can potentially result in serious cardiac conduction abnormalities and arrhythmias. Objective: To document electrocardiographic (ECG) findings and the sequence of ECG changes that are associated with increasing plasma potassium concentrations (cK(+)) in a large population of neonatal diarrheic calves. Animals: One hundred and thirty neonatal diarrheic calves (age 21 days). Methods: Prospective observational study involving calves admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital. Results: Hyperkalemic calves (cK(+): 5.8-10.2, blood pH: 6.55-7.47) had significantly (P6.5 mmol/L, S wave amplitude voltage decreased when cK(+) >7.4 mmol/L, QRS duration increased when cK(+) >7.8 mmol/L, J point amplitude increased when cK(+) >7.9 mmol/L, and ST segment angle increased when cK(+) >9.1 mmol/L. P wave amplitude was characterized by a second common break point at cK(+)=8.2 mmol/L, above which value the amplitude was 0. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Hyperkalemia in neonatal diarrheic calves is associated with serious cardiac conduction abnormalities. In addition to increased S and T wave amplitude voltages, alterations of P and Ta wave amplitudes are early signs of hyperkalemia, which is consistent with the known sensitivity of atrial myocytes to increased cK(+)