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Echocardiography.
Abstract: Echocardiography encompasses a number of specific imaging techniques. The two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiogram is used to identify lesions of the heart and great vessels, assess myocardial function and provide a template for guiding contrast echocardiography, colour-coded Doppler echocardiography and spectral Doppler studies. M-mode echocardiography is used to measure cardiac size and ventricular function and can be combined with contrast or colour-coded Doppler studies for accurate timing of flow events. Pulsed wave and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography display the direction and velocity of red blood cells within the heart and circulation. Continuous wave Doppler studies are used to calculate pressure gradients in the circulation. Any of the Doppler techniques can be used to identify abnormal or high velocity flow responsible for pathologic heart murmurs. Each Doppler format is complementary to the others: colour-coded Doppler is used to screen large areas for flow disturbances; pulsed wave Doppler can pinpoint regions of abnormal flow; and continuous wave Doppler quantifies the maximal velocities of blood flow across cardiac lesions. Echocardiographic studies are very useful for the diagnosis and assessment of horses with cardiac murmurs, arrhythmias, and poor exercise performance. A number of cardiac disorders can be evaluated by echocardiography, including: cardiac malformation, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, bacterial endocarditis, pericardial effusion, and congestive heart failure. When combined with a careful clinical examination, exercise evaluation and results of electrocardiography, the echocardiogram provides the best overall clinical assessment of the equine heart.
Publication Date: 1995-09-01 PubMed ID: 8933064 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
- Review
- Cardiovascular Health
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Treatment
- Echocardiography
- Equine Health
- Heart
- Heart Murmur
- Horses
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Science
Summary
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This research article explores the use of various echocardiography techniques for diagnosing and assessing different heart conditions in horses. It highlights the significance of integrating these techniques with clinical examination, exercise evaluation, and electrocardiogram results for a comprehensive cardiac assessment.
Echocardiography Techniques
- The research article specifically discusses different echocardiography methods, beginning with two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiograms. These are used to identify heart and major vessel lesions, assess heart muscle function, and guide other procedures like contrast echocardiography and colour-coded Doppler echocardiography.
- M-mode echocardiography is another technique used to measure the size of the heart and its ventricular function. This method can be combined with colour-coded or contrast Doppler studies for accurate timing of flow events or measurement of blood movement in the heart.
- The article also covers Doppler echocardiography, which comes in two forms – pulsed wave and continuous wave. Both methods visualize the direction and velocity of red blood cells in the heart and circulation, helping detect abnormally high or abnormal blood flow. Continuous wave Doppler even calculates pressure gradients in the circulation.
Applications of Echocardiography in Veterinary Medicine
- The author explains how echocardiography is particularly useful for diagnosing and assessing horses with cardiac murmurs, arrhythmias, and exercise performance issues.
- Echocardiography can evaluate a variety of cardiac disorders in horses, such as cardiac malformation, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, bacterial endocarditis, pericardial effusion, and congestive heart failure.
- By effectively integrating echocardiography with thorough clinical examination, exercise evaluation, and electrocardiography, veterinarians can realize a comprehensive clinical assessment of a horse’s heart condition. This comprehensive evaluation therefore increases the chances of accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
Cite This Article
APA
Bonagura JD, Blissitt KJ.
(1995).
Echocardiography.
Equine Vet J Suppl(19), 5-17.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus 43210-1089, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Echocardiography / methods
- Echocardiography / veterinary
- Echocardiography, Doppler / methods
- Echocardiography, Doppler / veterinary
- Heart / anatomy & histology
- Heart / physiology
- Heart Diseases / diagnosis
- Heart Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Heart Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
References
This article includes 65 references
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Esin Ç, Güzel M. Changes in hepatic and renal Doppler ultrasonography: Current standard therapy in dogs with congestive heart failure. Open Vet J 2025 Sep;15(9):4210-4218.
- Chen W, Pan P. Application and Evaluation of Spiral CT in the Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease in Children. Int J Gen Med 2025;18:2217-2224.
- Shokrollahi S, Mohammadi R, Sarrafzadeh-Rezaei F, Jalilzadeh-Amin G, Hashemi-Asl SM. Clinical and echocardiographic evaluations of sedative and cardiovascular effects of combination of xylazine-acepromazine versus xylazine-pregabalin in horses. Vet Res Forum 2024;15(6):291-296.
- Chen L, Duan H, Li G, Li X. The Etiology of Chest Pain in Children Admitted to Cardiology Clinics and the Use Echocardiography to Screen for Cardiac Chest Pain in Children. Front Pediatr 2022;10:882022.
- Michlik KM, Biazik AK, Henklewski RZ, Szmigielska MA, Nicpoń JM, Pasławska U. Quadricuspid aortic valve and a ventricular septal defect in a horse. BMC Vet Res 2014 Jun 30;10:142.
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