Permanent Pacemaker Implantation for Treatment of Symptomatic Bradycardia in Two Cats

Abstract

Two cats with bradycardia and syncope were treated by permanent pacemaker implantation. Cat 1 had multiple episodes of syncope intermittently over a 10‐month period and then multiple episodes within 24 hours; cat 2 had episodes of collapse over a 3‐month period. Clinical signs included disorientation, vocalization, and collapse. High‐grade second‐degree AV block was recorded in both cats, with left and right bundle branch block in cat 1 and right bundle branch block in cat 2. Neither responded to pharmacologic therapy. In cat 1, an epimyocardial electrode was implanted into the left ventricular apex by a ventral abdominal transdiaphragmatic surgical approach. Cat 2 had a permanent smooth endocardial pacing lead introduced into the fight external jugular vein and directed into the right ventricular apex. Both cats were clinically normal within three days after implantation. Complications in cat 2 included failure of pacemaker capture, endocardial lead dislodgement, and pulse generator pocket seroma. Cats with symptomatic bradycardia caused by second‐degree and third‐degree AV block can be effectively treated by pacemaker implantation by surgical endomyocardial or perivenous endocardial lead placement.