A novel approach for obtaining 12-lead electrocardiograms in horses.
Abstract: In equine medicine, 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) rarely are used, which may in part be a result of shortcomings in the existing guidelines for obtaining 12-lead ECGs in horses. The guidelines recommend placing the limb leads on the extremities, which is inappropriate because the ventricular mean electrical axis is then perpendicular to the limb leads, leading to large variations in ECG configuration even among healthy horses. From an electrophysiological point of view, the leads instead should be parallel to the electrical axis to minimize variability. Objective: Develop an improved method for obtaining 12-lead ECGs in horses based on electrophysiology and cardiac electrical vectors relevant to horses. Methods: Thirty-five healthy Standardbred horses. Methods: Two ECGs obtained at rest; 1 ECG with the electrodes placed according to the method developed in the present study, the Copenhagen method, and 1 ECG following existing guidelines. Results: In the Copenhagen method, we repositioned the limb electrodes to the thorax to better capture the electrical activity of the heart. Variation in the mean electrical axis decreased dramatically with the Copenhagen method (SD decreased from 24.6° to 1.6°, P < .001). Consequently, this new method provided stable ECGs with repeatable configurations. Conclusions: With this novel method, the ECG is recorded with respect to the electric axis to fully realize the potential of 12-lead ECG in horses. The Copenhagen method delivered more consistent and reliable ECG recordings compared to existing guidelines. The Copenhagen method potentially allows for expanded use of 12-lead ECGs in equine medicine.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2020-12-04 PubMed ID: 33274799PubMed Central: PMC7848388DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15980Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Biotechnology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Electrocardiography
- Electrophysiology
- Equine Health
- Equine Medicine
- Heart
- Heart Rate
- Horses
- Physiology
- Standardbred Horses
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Research
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article outlines a new method for acquiring 12-lead ECGs in horses, titled the “Copenhagen method”. Compared to existing guidelines, this method provides more accurate and reliable results by considering the electrophysiology and cardiac electrical vectors in horses.
Objective of the Study
The goal of this study was to develop a more efficient method for obtaining 12-lead ECGs in horses. This method aims to adjust for shortcomings in existing guidelines.
- The existing guidelines suggest placing limb leads on the extremities, which is not suitable given that the ventricular mean electrical axis is perpendicular to the limb leads. This results in significant variations in the ECG configuration among healthy horses.
- The new method argued in this study aimed to place the leads parallel to the electrical axis to reduce variability, essentially improving the quality of ECG readings in horses.
Methodology
This study involved thirty-five healthy standardbred horses.
- Two ECGs were obtained at rest for each horse: one following the new “Copenhagen method” developed in this study and another based on the existing conventional guidelines.
- In the Copenhagen method, the limb electrodes were repositioned to the thorax to gain a better representation of the heart’s electrical activity.
Results
The results revealed a marked improvement in ECG recordings using the Copenhagen method compared to the conventional method.
- There was a significant decrease in the variation in the mean electrical axis using the Copenhagen method (standard deviation decreased from 24.6° to 1.6°, P < .001).
- This reduced variability meant that the ECG recordings were more stable and provided repeated configurations.
Conclusions
This study concluded that the Copenhagen method offers a better way of recording 12-lead ECGs in horses.
- This new approach records ECGs in relation to the electric axis, allowing the full potential of 12-lead ECGs to be realised in horses.
- Compared to existing guidelines, the Copenhagen method delivered more consistent and dependable ECG recordings.
- The Copenhagen method could pave the way for increased use of 12-lead ECGs in equine medicine, offering a more reliable source of cardiographic data in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Hesselkilde EM, Isaksen JL, Petersen BV, Carstensen H, Jespersen T, Pehrson S, Kanters JK, Buhl R.
(2020).
A novel approach for obtaining 12-lead electrocardiograms in horses.
J Vet Intern Med, 35(1), 521-531.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15980 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
- Department of Cardiology, The Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Electrocardiography / veterinary
- Electrodes
- Extremities
- Heart
- Horses
- Thorax
Grant Funding
- Foreningen KUSTOS af 1881
- University of Copenhagen
Conflict of Interest Statement
Authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
This article includes 29 references
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Heun F, Niebuhr T, Gutierrez Bautista A, Wiedmann F, Verhaar N, Kästner S, Feige K, Schmidt C. Treatment of a Paroxysmal Atrioventricular Block by Implantation of a Bipolar, Single-Chamber Cardiac Pacemaker in a Donkey. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 27;13(17).
- White R, Nath L, Hebart M, Franklin S. Assessment of P Wave Indices in Healthy Standardbred Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 16;13(6).
- Kenchaiwong W, Sangpo P, Kusol A, Pontaema T, Lerdweeraphon W. The position of ground electrode affects electrocardiographic parameters in horses. Vet World 2022 Apr;15(4):1107-1112.
- Van Steenkiste G, Boussy T, Duytschaever M, Vernemmen I, Schauvlieghe S, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Detection of the origin of atrial tachycardia by 3D electro-anatomical mapping and treatment by radiofrequency catheter ablation in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Jul;36(4):1481-1490.
- Weis R, Carstensen H, Sattler SM, Buhl R, Hesselkilde EM. Electrocardiographic Changes in a Horse with Induced Myocardial Infarction. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 16;12(10).
- Nissen SD, Weis R, Krag-Andersen EK, Hesselkilde EM, Isaksen JL, Carstensen H, Kanters JK, Linz D, Sanders P, Hopster-Iversen C, Jespersen T, Pehrson S, Buhl R. Electrocardiographic characteristics of trained and untrained standardbred racehorses. J Vet Intern Med 2022 May;36(3):1119-1130.
- Van Steenkiste G, Delhaas T, Hermans B, Vera L, Decloedt A, van Loon G. An Exploratory Study on Vectorcardiographic Identification of the Site of Origin of Focally Induced Premature Depolarizations in Horses, Part II: The Ventricles. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 23;12(5).
- Van Steenkiste G, Delhaas T, Hermans B, Vera L, Decloedt A, van Loon G. An Exploratory Study on Vectorcardiographic Identification of the Site of Origin of Focally Induced Premature Depolarizations in Horses, Part I: The Atria. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 23;12(5).
- Buschmann E, Van Steenkiste G, Vernemmen I, Demeyere M, Schauvliege S, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Multiple Catheter Recording in Horses to Investigate Atrial Depolarization Pattern During Sinus Rhythm and Induced Premature Atrial Complexes. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Sep-Oct;39(5):e70218.
- Scharling FS, Sandgreen DM, Stagegaard J, Elbrønd VS, Vincenti S, Isaksen JL, Wang T, Wilson RP, Gunner R, Marks N, Bell SH, van Rooyen MC, Bennett NC, Hart DW, Daly AC, Bertelsen MF, Scantlebury DM, Calloe K, Thomsen MB. Short QT intervals in African lions. Exp Physiol 2024 Dec;109(12):2088-2099.
- Paulussen E, Van Steenkiste G, Hermans BJM, Decloedt A, van Loon G, Delhaas T. Einthoven's triangle adapted for horses: Proposal for the Delta configuration. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2698-2706.
- Pontaema T, Pongthaisong P, Kenchaiwong W, Chompoosan C, Lerdweeraphon W. Evaluation of vasovagal tonus index and electrocardiographic parameters in horses using a new modified base apex lead method. Vet World 2024 Jun;17(6):1385-1390.
- Avison A, Gelzer AR, Reef VB, Wulster Bills KB, de Solis CN, Kraus MS, Slack J, Stefanovski D, Deacon LJ, Underwood C. Twenty-four hour continuous transvenous temporary right ventricular pacing in healthy horses. J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1751-1764.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
