Premature ventricular contractions and apparent hypertension during anesthesia in an ostrich

Premature ventricular contractions and apparent hypertension were seen in an adult ostrich anesthetized with isoflurane. The ostrich had septic joints and was anesthetized to allow joint lavage. The premature ventricular contractions occurred at a rate of 1 to 2/min, with a brief period of 12 to 15/min, and were not treated with any antiarrhythmic drugs. Normal blood pressures for awake or anesthetized adult ostriches are not readily available, but blood pressures in this bird were higher than in other ostriches measured with the same technique. Systolic pressures ranged from 199 to 249 mm of Hg, diastolic pressures from 107 to 177 mm of Hg, and mean pressures were from 165 to 220 mm of Hg during isoflurane anesthesia of approximately 45 minutes' duration. Recovery from anesthesia was complicated, although the ostrich died 12 days later from mycotic pneumonia.