Evaluation of the Audicor Acoustic Cardiography Device as a Diagnostic Tool in Horses with Mitral or Aortic Valve Insufficiency.

Mitral and aortic valve insufficiencies have been commonly reported in horses. The objective of this study was to establish the use of acoustic cardiography (Audicor) in horses with aortic (AI) or mitral valve insufficiency (MI). A total of 17 healthy horses, 18 horses with AI, and 28 horses with MI were prospectively included.

Diagnostic value of two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of the pulmonary artery diameter and the pulmonary artery distensibility index to detect pulmonary hypertension in horses.

Introduction/objectives: Echocardiographic diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in horses is usually based on Doppler interrogation of tricuspid (TR) or pulmonic regurgitation (PR). This study aimed at investigating two-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) variables, including pulmonary artery diameter (PAD) and pulmonary artery distensibility index (PADI), to diagnose PH.

Animals, Materials And Methods: 41 healthy horses; 82 horses with TR or PR and normal intracardiac pressure gradients; and 35 horses with TR or PR velocities indicating PH.

Focused cardiac ultrasound examination in the emergency and critical care horse: Training for non-specialist veterinarians and evaluation of proficiency.

Background: Focused cardiac ultrasound examination (FoCUS) is rapidly emerging for point-of-care cardiac assessment using hand-carried ultrasound (HCU) devices. A specific FoCUS protocol for horses and adequate training guidelines currently are not available.

Hypothesis: To gain knowledge about the training necessary to become proficient in performing FoCUS using a HCU device.

Atrial fibrillatory rate as predictor of recurrence of atrial fibrillation in horses treated medically or with electrical cardioversion.

Background: The recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) in horses after cardioversion to sinus rhythm (SR) is relatively high. Atrial fibrillatory rate (AFR) derived from surface ECG is considered a biomarker for electrical remodelling and could potentially be used for the prediction of successful AF cardioversion and AF recurrence.

Objectives: Evaluate if AFR was associated with successful treatment and could predict AF recurrence in horses.

Balloon valvuloplasty of valvular pulmonary stenosis in a neonatal foal.

In a 1-day old filly with a loud heart murmur, transthoracic echocardiography revealed right ventricular hypertrophy associated with severe pulmonary valvular stenosis and a transvalvular pressure gradient (between right ventricle and pulmonary artery) of 125 mmHg. Computed tomographic angiography confirmed the finding, with no evidence of other relevant concurrent abnormalities. Balloon valvuloplasty was performed using a single balloon technique.