Equine echocardiography–sound advice at the heart of the matter.

This research article is about the application of three forms of echocardiography (B mode, M mode, and Doppler) in diagnosing and evaluating different kinds of heart diseases in horses.

Echocardiography as a Diagnostic Tool

• The authors disclose that echocardiography provides a versatile tool for practitioners specializing in equine health, both clinicians and physiologists.
• Three forms of echocardiography are discussed – B mode, M mode, and Doppler – all of which offer different yet complementary information about the heart and its hemodynamic status.

Forms of Echocardiography

• B mode echocardiography is used for imaging the cardiac chambers, valves, myocardium, and pericardium.
• M mode echocardiography is used to determine the motion of cardiac structures, and it is considered superior to B mode in terms of timing events and making precise measurements of the heart.
• Doppler echocardiography, on the other hand, is used for assessing the blood flow inside the heart as well as its velocity.

Application of Echocardiography in Equine Cardiac Disease

• The authors explore the utility of echocardiography in diagnosing all forms of equine cardiac disease.
• The principles of each echocardiography mode and the imaging techniques used are comprehensively reviewed.
• Findings considered normal, as well as abnormalities associated with valvular lesions, congenital cardiac disease, myocardial and pericardial diseases are thoroughly discussed.

Recent Developments in Echocardiographic Techniques

• The article also covers recent developments in echocardiographic techniques for the assessment of ventricular function, illustrating the ever-evolving nature of this diagnostic tool’s capabilities.