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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2014; 28(2); 624-629; doi: 10.1111/jvim.12322

Atrial fibrillation cycle length and atrial size in horses with and without recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion.

Abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) cycle length (CL) and atrial size have been used in humans to characterize electrical and structural remodeling to predict outcome of cardioversion of AF and risk for AF recurrence (rAF). Objective: Atrial fibrillation cycle length can be determined in horses with AF, and AFCL and atrial size are related to risk for rAF. Methods: Eighteen horses with naturally occurring AF that were successfully converted to sinus rhythm (SR) by transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC). Methods: Prospective study. Horses with severe valvular regurgitation, left atrial enlargement, or that required sedation for catheter placement were excluded. In all horses intra-atrial electrograms were recorded and estimated AF duration and echocardiographic parameters were determined before TVEC. The follow-up time was 1 year after TVEC. Results: Atrial fibrillation cycle length could be determined in all horses. The AFCL and the shortest 5th percentile (p5) AFCL in horses with rAF (n = 6 or 33%) were (mean ± SD) 157 ± 28 and 134 ± 24 milliseconds, respectively, and in those maintaining SR (n = 12 or 67%) 166 ± 13 and 141 ± 13 milliseconds, respectively. Significant parameters to predict rAF were (1) the ratios of the p5AFCL to the left atrium (LA) sizes corrected to the size of aorta (AO) and (2) LA sizes corrected to the size of AO. Conclusions: Before TVEC, assessment of LA size and atrial electrophysiologic characteristics might help to identify horses at increased risk for AF recurrence.
Copyright © 2014 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2014-02-24 PubMed ID: 24611990PubMed Central: PMC4858013DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12322Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

This research explores the correlation between atrial fibrillation cycle length and atrial size in horses for predicting the likelihood of atrial fibrillation recurrence following electrical cardioversion.

Methodology and Participants

  • The research was a prospective study involving 18 horses that had naturally occurring atrial fibrillation (AF).
  • These horses were successfully reverted back to sinus rhythm (SR) through a process known as transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC).
  • The study did not include horses with severe valvular regurgitation, significant left atrial enlargement, or those that required sedation for catheter placement.
  • Prior to the TVEC procedure, intra-atrial electrograms were recorded from all the horses and estimates on AF duration and echocardiographic parameters were noted.
  • The researchers followed up one year after the TVEC procedure to check on the status of the horses.

Results

  • Atrial fibrillation cycle length (AFCL) was successfully determined in all horses participating in this study.
  • The horses that had AF recurrence (6 or 33% of the total) had an AFCL and the shortest 5th percentile AFCL (a measure indicating the shortest cycle lengths that make up 5% of all AF cycles) of 157 ± 28 and 134 ± 24 milliseconds respectively.
  • The horses maintaining sinus rhythm (12 or 67% of total) post-TVEC had an AFCL and the shortest 5th percentile AFCL of 166 ± 13 and 141 ± 13 milliseconds, respectively.
  • The research identified two significant parameters for predicting the AF recurrence. These are (1) the ratios of the p5AFCL to the left atrium (LA) sizes corrected to the size of aorta (AO) and (2), LA sizes corrected to the size of AO.

Conclusions

  • The research concluded that assessing LA size and atrial electrophysiologic characteristics might prove significant in identifying horses at increased risk for AF recurrence before undergoing a TVEC procedure.

Cite This Article

APA
De Clercq D, Decloedt A, Sys SU, Verheyen T, Van Der Vekens N, van Loon G. (2014). Atrial fibrillation cycle length and atrial size in horses with and without recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion. J Vet Intern Med, 28(2), 624-629. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12322

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 28
Issue: 2
Pages: 624-629

Researcher Affiliations

De Clercq, D
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Decloedt, A
    Sys, S U
      Verheyen, T
        Van Der Vekens, N
          van Loon, G

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Atrial Fibrillation / pathology
            • Atrial Fibrillation / physiopathology
            • Atrial Fibrillation / therapy
            • Atrial Fibrillation / veterinary
            • Echocardiography / veterinary
            • Electric Countershock / veterinary
            • Electrocardiography / veterinary
            • Female
            • Heart Atria / pathology
            • Heart Atria / physiopathology
            • Horse Diseases / pathology
            • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
            • Horse Diseases / therapy
            • Horses / anatomy & histology
            • Horses / physiology
            • Male
            • Organ Size

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            Citations

            This article has been cited 10 times.
            1. Schneider MJ, Piotrowski IL, Junge HK, van Steenkiste G, Vernemmen I, van Loon G, Schwarzwald CC. Application of Acoustic Cardiography in Assessment of Cardiac Function in Horses with Atrial Fibrillation Before and After Cardioversion. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 7;15(13).
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            2. Vernemmen I, Van Steenkiste G, Dufourni A, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Transvenous electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation in horses: Horse and procedural factors correlated with success and recurrence. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Mar;36(2):758-769.
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            3. Buhl R, Hesselkilde EM, Carstensen H, Hopster-Iversen C, van Loon G, Decloedt A, Van Steenkiste G, Marr CM, Reef VB, Schwarzwald CC, Mitchell KJ, Nostell K, Nogradi N, Nielsen SS, Carlson J, Platonov PG. Atrial fibrillatory rate as predictor of recurrence of atrial fibrillation in horses treated medically or with electrical cardioversion. Equine Vet J 2022 Nov;54(6):1013-1022.
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            4. Nath LC, Elliott AD, Weir J, Curl P, Rosanowski SM, Franklin S. Incidence, recurrence, and outcome of postrace atrial fibrillation in Thoroughbred horses. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Mar;35(2):1111-1120.
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            6. Broux B, De Clercq D, Vera L, Ven S, Deprez P, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Can heart rate variability parameters derived by a heart rate monitor differentiate between atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm?. BMC Vet Res 2018 Oct 25;14(1):320.
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            7. Decloedt A, Broux B, De Clercq D, Deprez P, Van Steenkiste G, Vera L, Ven S, van Loon G. Effect of sotalol on heart rate, QT interval, and atrial fibrillation cycle length in horses with atrial fibrillation. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Mar;32(2):815-821.
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