Use of a smartphone ECG monitor to identify electrocardiogram abnormalities due to hyperkalemia from urinary obstruction in a Jacob’s sheep

Abstract

Smartphone-based ECGS present a diagnostic opportunity for large animal practice. A two year old Jacob’s sheep presented with severe hyperkalemia secondary to a urinary obstruction. Collection of an electrocardiogram from a smart-phone based device demonstrated altered waveforms typical of severe hyperkalemia. The patient was successfully managed with medical and surgical therapies. This case presents that the method of collecting a smartphone-based ECG as determined for other large animal species, may be applicable to sheep. Additionally, this report demonstrates that the smartphone-based device may be sensitive enough to detect the absence of a P wave as commonly encountered with cases of hyperkalemia.