Torsemide can be used for long-term management of congestive heart failure in equids: a description of 12 cases (2019-2024).

Objective: Information about congestive heart failure (CHF) treatment in the horse is limited. Torsemide, an oral loop diuretic, is increasingly used in humans, dogs, and cats with CHF. Torsemide is well absorbed and induces diuresis in healthy horses, and its use in a horse with CHF has been reported.

Twenty-four hour continuous transvenous temporary right ventricular pacing in healthy horses.

Background: The ability to perform transvenous temporary cardiac pacing (TV-TP) is critical to stabilize horses with symptomatic bradyarrhythmias. Reports of successful TV-TP in horses are limited, and only briefly describe short-term pacing.

Objective: To describe temporary, medium-term (24 h) transvenous right ventricular pacing in awake horses using a bipolar torque-directed pacing catheter.

Evaluation of a Self-Driven Large Animal Point of Care Ultrasound Learning Program for Veterinary Students.

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has the potential to improve health care outcomes and is increasingly used in veterinary primary care and specialty practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate a self-driven POCUS learning program during clinical rotations in a large animal teaching hospital. A randomized controlled trial of 94 students evaluated the hypotheses that access to a self-driven POCUS program would improve scores on a written test and the quality of subjective, objective, assessment and plan (SOAP) documents.

Cardiovascular changes in horses with atrial fibrillation and high thyroid hormone concentration: a case-control study.

Introduction: Hyperthyroidism is a predisposing factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) in humans. The relationship between high thyroid hormone (TH) and AF in horses has not been evaluated.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify whether (1) high TH concentrations were present in horses with AF, (2) other cardiovascular effects were observed in horses with high TH and AF, and (3) TH status affected recurrence rate.

Closure of an Aortocardiac Fistula in a Horse.

• An ACF developed in a hospitalized horse following orthopedic surgery. • Spontaneous closure of the ACF occurred 6 weeks after initial diagnosis. • Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality to confirm the presence of ACF in equids.

Phlegmonous gastritis in 2 yearling horses.

Phlegmonous gastritis was diagnosed in 2 yearling fillies that were presented with a 1-wk history of fever, lethargy, and hypoproteinemia, associated with a previous diagnosis of equine proliferative enteropathy based on clinical signs and PCR assay detection of in fecal samples. Abdominal ultrasound revealed enlargement of the stomach and expansion of its submucosal layer with hypoechoic fluid, as well as thickened hypomotile small intestinal segments. Given the poor prognosis and poor response to treatment, both horses were euthanized, one on the day of presentation and the other after 3 wk of intensive medical management including a combination of antimicrobials, analgesics, and intravenous colloids.

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.

Pocket-Sized Ultrasound Versus Traditional Ultrasound Images in Equine Imaging: A Pictorial Essay.

This pictorial essay aims to display the image quality of pocket-sized ultrasound devices and hospital-based equipment to provide clinicians visual information about the potential uses of point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) in equine practice. Twenty-two paired images were obtained using traditional ultrasound equipment and pocket-sized ultrasound devices from patients evaluated at veterinary teaching hospitals. Images of many common ultrasound windows and miscellaneous sonographic abnormalities were obtained using pocket-sized ultrasound equipment.

Evaluation of Autologous Protein Solution Injection for Treatment of Superficial Digital Flexor Tendonitis in an Equine Model.

Autologous protein solution (APS) has been used anecdotally for intralesional treatment of tendon and ligament injuries, however, its use in these injuries has never been studied . Our objective was to evaluate the effect of APS on tendon healing in an equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis model. We hypothesized intralesional injection of APS would result in superior structural and biomechanical healing.

Hypercapnia and hyperlactatemia were positively associated with higher-grade arrhythmias during peak exercise in horses during poor performance evaluation on a high-speed treadmill.

Cardiac arrhythmias are common in horses during exercise, especially immediately post-exercise. The objectives of this study were to: (1) describe the frequency and type of cardiac arrhythmias detected in horses during incremental high-speed treadmill exercise testing (ITET); (2) determine if arterial blood gas (ABG) changes at peak and immediately post-exercise were associated with arrhythmias; and (3) determine whether upper or lower airway disease was associated with exercising cardiac arrhythmias. Horses (n = 368) presenting for an ITET underwent resting and exercising upper airway endoscopy, resting, exercising and post-exercise electrocardiography, resting and post-exercise echocardiography and exercising ABG.

Utility and accuracy of a smartphone-based electrocardiogram device as compared to a standard base-apex electrocardiogram in the horse.

Objective: Evaluate accuracy and utility of a smartphone-based ECG device compared to a standard base-apex lead ECG in horses.

Methods: ECGs were acquired prospectively from 28 client-owned horses at 2 equine referral hospitals. Twenty-five pairs of 30-s ECG recordings were acquired simultaneously from 23 horses with a smartphone ECG device (a bi-polar single lead recorder coupled to a smartphone with an ECG application) and with a standard base-apex lead ECG; 2 horses provided two pairs of simultaneously acquired ECGs.

Assessment of the Cardiovascular System in Horses During Prepurchase and Insurance Examinations.

Arrhythmias detected on prepurchase examination should be confirmed with an ECG. Exercising ECG determines if the arrhythmia is overdriven during exercise or is a safety concern. An echocardiogram is needed in all horses with a grade 3/6 or louder mid to late systolic, holosystolic, or pansystolic murmur or any holodiastolic decrescendo murmur to identify the cardiac abnormality and its hemodynamic impact.

Assessing gastrointestinal motility in healthy horses comparing auscultation, ultrasonography and an acoustic gastrointestinal surveillance biosensor: a randomised, blinded, controlled crossover proof of principle study.

Background: Auscultation and ultrasonography are noninvasive techniques used to assess gastrointestinal motility in horses. Recently, noninvasive acoustic gastrointestinal surveillance (AGIS) biosensors evaluating intestinal motility have been validated in humans.

Objectives: To compare AGIS to auscultation and ultrasonography for detecting decreased motility after xylazine administration.

Evaluation of coagulation and fibrinolysis in horses with atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To evaluate horses with atrial fibrillation for hypercoagulability; plasma D-dimer concentrations, as a marker of a procoagulant state; and a relationship between coagulation profile results and duration of atrial fibrillation or presence of structural heart disease.

Design: Case-control study.

Animals: Plasma samples from 42 horses (25 with atrial fibrillation and 17 without cardiovascular or systemic disease [control group]).

The Association of Fibrinous Pleural Effusion with Survival and Complications in Horses with Pleuropneumonia (2002-2012): 74 Cases.

Background: Fibrinous parapneumonic pleural effusions are associated with decreased efficacy of pleural fluid drainage and increased risk of medical treatment failure in people, but similar associations have not been established in horses.

Hypothesis/objectives: We hypothesized that fibrin deposition in the pleural cavity of horses with parapneumonic effusions increases the risk of poor outcome.

Animals: Seventy four horses with bacterial pleuropneumonia diagnosed by culture and cytology of tracheal aspirates, pleural fluid, or both, and pleural effusion diagnosed by ultrasonographic examination.

Risk factors for recurrence of atrial fibrillation in horses after cardioversion to sinus rhythm.

Background: Although atrial fibrillation (AF) can be successfully treated in horses, recurrence occurs frequently. In humans, atrial function after cardioversion can predict recurrence.

Objectives: To examine the prognostic value of atrial mechanical function at 24 hours after cardioversion and other potential predictor variables for AF recurrence in horses.

Gastrointestinal ultrasonography of normal Standardbred neonates and frequency of asymptomatic intussusceptions.

Background: Ultrasonographic appearance of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of equine neonates has not been completely described.

Objectives: To describe (1) sonographic characteristics of the GI segments in normal nonsedated equine neonates, (2) intra- and interobserver variation in wall thickness, and (3) the sonographic appearance of asymptomatic intussusceptions, and (4) to compare age and sonographic findings of foals with and without asymptomatic intussusceptions.

Animals: Eighteen healthy Standardbred foals ≤5 days of age.

Cardiac troponin I concentrations in horses with colic.

Objective: To determine prevalence of myocardial injury in horses with colic on the basis of high concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), frequency of cardiac arrhythmias within the first 24 to 48 hours after hospital admission or surgery because of colic, and associations between high cTnI concentrations and cardiac arrhythmias, clinical course, and outcome (survival to discharge from hospital vs nonsurvival [death or euthanasia]).

Design: Prospective observational study.

Animals: 111 horses with colic.

Occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias in Standardbred racehorses.

Reasons For Performing Study: Cardiac arrhythmias are a recognised but poorly characterised problem in the Standardbred racehorse. Frequency data could aid the development of cardiac arrhythmia screening programmes.

Objectives: To characterise the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias in Standardbreds prior to racing and in the late post race period using a handheld, noncontinuous recording device.

Recommendations for management of equine athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities.

Murmurs and arrhythmias are commonly detected in equine athletes. Assessing the relevance of these cardiovascular abnormalities in the performance horse can be challenging. Determining the impact of a cardiovascular disorder on performance, life expectancy, horse and rider or driver safety relative to the owner's future expectations is paramount.

Hypertensive cardiomyopathy in horses: 5 cases (1995-2011).

Objective: To describe the prognosis and clinical, echocardiographic, and pathological features of hypertensive cardiomyopathy in horses.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 5 horses with cardiac hypertrophy and systemic hypertension.

Cardiac troponin I in racing standardbreds.

Background: Upper reference limits for cTnI have not been established for healthy Standardbred racehorses.

Objectives: To establish cTnI upper reference limits for Standardbred racehorses and determine if increases in plasma cTnI concentration can be detected in 1-2 hours after a race.

Animals: Samples were obtained from 586 apparently healthy Standardbreds aged 2-14 years before racing and from the winners of 144 races 1-2 hours after the end of the race.

The importance of ultrasonographic pneumatosis intestinalis in equine neonatal gastrointestinal disease.

Reasons For Performing Study: Recognising the presence of a necrotising component of the gastrointestinal disease may be clinically useful in ill equine neonates.

Objectives: To study the importance of abdominal sonograms in neonatal foals suffering from gastrointestinal conditions and to describe the clinical features of necrotising gastrointestinal disease.

Hypothesis: There is a subgroup of neonates with sonographically detectable pneumatosis intestinalis (PI), reflecting a necrotising disease.