Comparison of Standard Electrocardiography and Smartphone-Based Electrocardiography Recorded at Two Different Anatomic Locations in Healthy Meat and Dairy Breed Does

Abstract

Smartphones present multiple applications for ambulatory practice. One of the newer technologies is smartphone-based electrocardiography (ECG). While this technology has been explored in horses and cattle, it has not yet been evaluated for goats. Fifteen goats of dairy and meat breeds were simultaneously tested with both a standard and smartphone-based ECG from two different anatomic locations (base apex and sternal positions). ECGs were compared for quality score, heart rate, and ECG intervals. Smartphone-based ECGs were feasible to collect in all goats under field settings. Scoring indicated higher quality scores for the standard ECG when compared to the smartphone-based ECG, and differences in smartphone ECG quality scores were noted between goats of different body types. Heart rate agreement was noted between measurements taken from smartphone-based and standard devices. ECG intervals calculated for smartphone-based ECGs were clinically similar to standard ECG. While not of the same diagnostic quality as standard ECG recordings, smartphone-based ECGs for goats present an easy to collect recording for caprine practice.

Evaluation of a smartphone electrocardiograph in healthy foals and comparison to standard base-apex electrocardiography

“…Moreover, consistent with studies in small ruminants (Smith 2020 ; King et al 2023 ), the quality of sECG traces was found to be lower than those of rECG traces. This finding may be attributed to inherent difficulty in maintaining optimal contact of electrodes with skin when using the smartphone-based device compared to the digital telemetric ECG device.…”

“…Wireless, smartphone-based technology for ECG recording has recently spread as a complementary tool for electrocardiographic screening and monitoring in horses (Vezzosi et al 2018 ; Kraus et al 2019 ; Alberti et al 2020 ; Welch-Huston et al 2020 ; Vitale et al 2021 ), sheep (King et al 2023 ), dairy cows (Bonelli et al 2019 ), goats (Smith 2020 ), dogs and cats (Vezzosi et al 2016 ; Kraus et al 2016 ). In human medicine, smartphone-based one-lead ECG devices have been developed using specific adaptors and software (Saxon et al 2013; Ho et al 2014 ; Haberman et al 2015 ; Nguyen et al 2015 ; Tarakji et al 2015 ).…”

The AliveCor KardiaMobile ECG device allows electrocardiogram assessment in awake bonobos (Pan paniscus)

“…Previous studies demonstrating the usefulness of smartphone-based ECG applications in veterinary patients have used methods requiring thoracic contact with the device to obtain ECG readings. [10][11][12][13][14] For great apes, thoracic contact may not be practical or safe in a non-anesthetized patient. Because the KM device has been created to be used with human fingers, it works well for use in great apes.…”

“…9 In contrast to adults, children required training and parental coaching or assistance to achieve optimal tracings, which were obtained in 90% of the participants. 9 Several studies have been published evaluating the use of smartphone-based ECGs in veterinary species, including dogs and cats, 10 goats, 11 cows, 12 horses, 13 and water buffalo calves. 14 In 2020, Cloutier et al described training methodologies for use of the KM device in great apes.…”

Fundamentals of arrhythmogenic mechanisms and treatment strategies for equine atrial fibrillation

“…Implantable recording devices have some potential 89 . Simple ECGs can also be obtained with smartphone technology 86,87,200–202 and can be used in this setting.…”