The prevalence of the electrocardiographic J wave in the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen compared to 10 different dog breeds.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the prevalence and amplitudes of the electrocardiographic J wave in the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen compared to 10 other dog breeds. ANIMALS: Electrocardiograms from 206 healthy dogs representing 11 dog breeds were included in the study. Besides Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (PBGV; n = 23) 10 other dog breeds were included. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electrocardiogram ruler was used for measuring the amplitudes of the J waves. The definition of a J wave was a positive deflection at the J point of ≥0.1 mV in more than 1 lead of the bipolar standard limb leads (I, II, III) or the unipolar standard limb leads (aVL and aVF). RESULTS: The prevalence of J waves in the PBGV (n = 23) was 91% (n = 21, standard error (SE) = 5.9%), which was significantly higher compared to seven other dog breeds (p < 0.05). The overall prevalence of J waves in all 11 dog breeds (n = 206) was 43% (n = 89, robust SE = 7.8%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence between male and female dogs (p = 0.79). Neither did age (p = 0.22) nor heart rate (p = 0.25) significantly affect the prevalence of J wave. CONCLUSIONS: The PBGV had the highest prevalence of J waves and the highest amplitudes compared to 10 other dog breeds. However J waves were also seen in other breeds. Therefore, J waves may be considered a normal variant on the canine electrocardiogram and should not be interpreted as cardiac disease.

Savings achieved through cephalosporin surveillance.

The process by which a 427-bed, acute-care teaching hospital reduced the cost of cephalosporin therapy is described. During a nine-month surveillance period, cefazolin prescribing patterns were monitored. Of the 674 patients who received cefazolin, 640 (92%) received dosages greater than those recommended in the literature. Attempts were made to alter inappropriate prescribing through pharmacist-physician consultation and through contact with the medical service representative of the company which supplied cefazolin. Because these efforts failed, the pharmacy and therapeutics committee decided to delete cefazolin from the formulary. Cephalothin and cephapirin were found to be clinically similar; therefore, the committee recommended that the less expensive cephapirin be dispensed whenever a parenteral cephalosporin was ordered. Prior to the switch to cephapirin, cefazolin accounted for 49% of all parenteral cephalosporin use and 62% of the cephalosporin cost. Cephalothin and cefazolin were 30% and 88%, respectively, more expensive than cephapirin. In the first year after the switch, the hospital saved $33,196 (28.8% of the previous year's total expenditures for cephalosporins).