Lidocaine and remifentanil for ventricular tachycardia suppression in a dog: A case report

Abstract

Background: Ventricular tachycardia is an arrhythmia that, if not corrected, can lead to reduced ischemic stroke volume and cardiac output, resulting in low tissue perfusion. Aim: To describe a case of ventricular tachycardia suppression using lidocaine and remifentanil in a dog during the transanesthetic period. Case Description: An 11-year-old Labrador Retriever dog with intraoral neoplasia was referred for hemimandibulectomy. Preanesthetic evaluation and complementary diagnostic tests revealed the presence of splenic neoplasia along with paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. The preanesthetic medication was methadone, and the patient was induced into general anesthesia using propofol. During the transanesthetic period, anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and continuous infusion of lidocaine and remifentanil. Throughout the procedure, the patient remained in sinus tachycardia without any arrhythmic events. Conclusion: The arrhythmias on electrocardiogram during the transanesthetic period highlight the effective control of paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia through the use of lidocaine and remifentanil infusion. [Open Vet. J. 2025; 15(7.000): 3352-3356]

Keywords

• arrhythmia treatment
• dog
• lidocaine
• remifentanil