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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Echocardiographic Features of the Ductus Arteriosus and the ...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(17); 2242; doi: 10.3390/ani12172242

Echocardiographic Features of the Ductus Arteriosus and the Foramen Ovale in a Hospital-Based Population of Neonatal Foals.

Abstract: The ductus arteriosus (DA) and foramen ovale (FO), including the septum primum (SP) and septum secundum (SS), are important structures in fetal circulation and are unexplored in neonatal equids. The objective of this study is to describe echocardiographic characteristics in a hospital-based population of neonatal foals. On days 2, 5 and 10 after parturition, cardiac ultrasound was performed, and clinical data were collected in healthy and diseased Warmblood foals. Fifty healthy ( = 15) and diseased ( = 35) Warmblood foals were examined. A left-sided and right-sided holosystolic murmur was audible in 98% ( = 42) and 51% ( = 22), respectively, on day 2; in 81% ( = 25) and 19% ( = 6) on day 5; and in 44% ( = 4) and 11% ( = 1) on day 10. The median grade of the systolic murmurs was higher when the DA was open. Flow through the DA could be visualized with color flow and continuous wave (CW) Doppler from the left parasternal long-axis view of the pulmonary artery in 40/43 foals on day 2, 9/31 foals on day 5 and 2/9 foals on day 10. The DA diameter was 2 ± 1 mm on day 2, 2 ± 1 mm on day 5 and 1 mm on day 10. The thickness of both septa of the FO was similar. The SP fluttered into the left atrium at all ages, but the maximal distance between the SP and SS decreased over time. In conclusion, cardiac murmurs, a patent DA and fluttering FO are frequent findings in neonatal foals. While these findings are probably physiological, the clinical importance needs to be further elucidated.
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Publication Date: 2022-08-30 PubMed ID: 36077962PubMed Central: PMC9454784DOI: 10.3390/ani12172242Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 article focuses on understanding the echocardiographic characteristics of two important structures in fetal circulation, ductus arteriosus (DA) and foramen ovale (FO), in neonatal foals. The research also observes the presence of physiological anomalies such as cardiac murmurs and patent DA in the subjects.

Study Approach

  • The study conducted cardiac ultrasound on newborn Warmblood horse species (foals) on the 2nd, 5th, and 10th day after their birthing.
  • A sample size of 50 Warmblood foals (15 healthy and 35 diseased) were included in the study.
  • Any cardiac murmurs were noticed and their occurrence over time was recorded. The degree of these murmurs was also studied when the DA was open.
  • The blood flow through the DA was visualized using color flow and continuous wave (CW) Doppler imaging techniques.
  • Measurements of the diameter of DA and the thickness of the two septa of the FO (septum primum and septum secundum) were taken at different stages.
  • The position and movement of the SP into the left atrium and the gap between the SP and SS were also observed over time.

Key Findings

  • A left-sided and right-sided holosystolic murmur was found in 98% of the foals on day 2, 81% on day 5 and 44% on day 10.
  • The median grade of the systolic murmurs was found to be higher when the DA was open.
  • Flow through the DA could be visualized using techniques in 40 out of 43 foals on Day 2, decreasing to 9 out of 31 foals on Day 5, and further declining to 2 out of 9 foals on Day 10.
  • The diameter of the DA was 2±1mm on days 2 and 5, while it decreased to 1mm by day 10.
  • The thickness of the FO’s septa was observed to be similar throughout, whereas the SP was always seen to flutter into the left atrium.
  • Over time, the maximum distance between the SP and SS decreased, indicating possible growth and development changes.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that in neonatal foals, cardiac murmurs, a patent DA, and a fluttering FO are frequent findings.
  • These could be physiological in nature, conditioned by the early development stages of the foals, but their potential clinical importance requires further investigation for clear understanding.

Cite This Article

APA
De Lange L, Vernemmen I, van Loon G, Decloedt A. (2022). Echocardiographic Features of the Ductus Arteriosus and the Foramen Ovale in a Hospital-Based Population of Neonatal Foals. Animals (Basel), 12(17), 2242. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12172242

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 17
PII: 2242

Researcher Affiliations

De Lange, Lisa
  • Equine Cardioteam, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Vernemmen, Ingrid
  • Equine Cardioteam, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
van Loon, Gunther
  • Equine Cardioteam, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Decloedt, Annelies
  • Equine Cardioteam, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.

Grant Funding

  • 1S71521N / Research Foundation Flanders
  • 01B05818 / Special Research Fund Ghent University

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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