Comparison of echocardiographic and autopsy measurements of cardiac dimensions in the horse.
Abstract: This study was initiated to determine the accuracy of M-mode echocardiography in measuring left ventricular dimensions and estimating heart weights in horses. Left ventricular free wall and interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular external and internal diameters were measured and heart weights estimated from the echocardiograms of 47 horses. Autopsy measurements of the same parameters were then recorded. Statistical comparison of the data demonstrated: (1) Systolic measurements of wall thickness more closely resembled the heart in death than the diastolic measurements; (2) good correlations existed between parameters measured echocardiographically and at autopsy, especially wall thicknesses and left ventricular external diameter (maximum r = 0.82); (3) heart weight was readily predicted from echocardiographic wall thickness regressions (maximum R-squared = 68 per cent). M-mode echocardiography demonstrated the potential for direct and accurate measurements of cardiac mass and some ventricular dimensions in the horse. The data suggested that intense rigor and exsanguination may render the autopsied heart unsatisfactory for comparative measurements when assessing techniques such as echocardiography.
Publication Date: 1985-09-01 PubMed ID: 4054086DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1985.tb02522.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Anatomy
- Autopsy
- Cardiovascular Health
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Echocardiography
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Heart
- Heart Rate
- Horses
- Left Ventricular Function
- Measurement Techniques
- Post Mortem
- Statistical Analysis
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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This research assessed the precision of M-mode echocardiography in measuring the dimensions of a horse’s left ventricle and estimating heart weights, and compared these measurements against those taken during an autopsy. The results indicated that echocardiography can accurately measure cardiac mass and dimensions in horses.
Objectives and Methodology of the Study
- The study was designed to establish the extent to which M-mode echocardiography can accurately measure left ventricular dimensions and predict heart weights in horses.
- Data from 47 horses was used for the study, with echocardiograms taken to measure thickness of the left ventricular free wall and interventricular septal, as well as left ventricular external and internal diameters. These measurements were then compared with those taken during an autopsy.
Key Findings of the Study
- The study found that systolic measurements of wall thickness bore a closer resemblance to the heart in death than diastolic measurements.
- Good correlations were found between the parameters measured using echocardiography and those recorded during the autopsy. This was especially true for thickness of the walls and left ventricular external diameter, which had a maximum correlation coefficient (r) of 0.82.
- Heart weight could be reasonably predicted from echocardiographic wall thickness regressions, with a maximum R-squared value of 68 per cent observed.
Conclusions and Implications of the Findings
- The study concluded that M-mode echocardiography has potential for accurate, direct measurements of cardiac mass and certain ventricular dimensions in horses.
- Data collected during the autopsy suggests that intense rigor and exsanguination may render autopsy-derived measurements unsuitable for comparative analysis when assessing the effectiveness of techniques like echocardiography. This potentially highlights the value of accurate, non-invasive measurement tools such as echocardiography.
Cite This Article
APA
O'Callaghan MW.
(1985).
Comparison of echocardiographic and autopsy measurements of cardiac dimensions in the horse.
Equine Vet J, 17(5), 361-368.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1985.tb02522.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Echocardiography / veterinary
- Heart / anatomy & histology
- Heart Diseases / diagnosis
- Heart Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses / anatomy & histology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Carstensen H, Nissen SD, Saljic A, Hesselkilde EM, van Hunnik A, Hohl M, Sattler SM, Fløgstad C, Hopster-Iversen C, Verheule S, Böhm M, Schotten U, Jespersen T, Buhl R. Long-Term Training Increases Atrial Fibrillation Sustainability in Standardbred Racehorses.. J Cardiovasc Transl Res 2023 Apr 4;.
- Marzok M, Kandeel M, Babiker H, Alkhodair KM, Farag A, Ibrahim H, El-Ashker M, Alghuwainem Y, El-Khodery S. M-Mode Echocardiographic Measurements of Interventricular Septum, Left Ventricular Internal Diameter, and Left Ventricular Free-Wall Thickness in Normal Horses-A Meta-Analytical Study.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 23;13(5).
- D' Fonseca NMM, Beukers M, Wijnberg ID, Navas de Solis C, de Ruijter-Villani M, van Doorn DA, Stout TAE, Roelfsema E. Effect of a long-term high-energy diet on cardiovascular parameters in Shetland pony mares.. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Sep;35(5):2427-2436.
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