First catheter-based high-density endocardial 3D electroanatomical mapping of the right atrium in standing horses.
Abstract: Three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping is of potential interest in equine cardiology to identify arrhythmia mechanisms, characterise electroanatomical substrates and guide ablation strategies. Objective: To describe three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping in standing horses. Methods: Research methodology, proof of concept study. Methods: Four Standardbred horses (2 geldings, 2 mares, median age 4.5 [4-9] years, mean bodyweight 485 [440-550] kg) were sedated and placed in stocks. Via the jugular vein, a high-density multipolar grid catheter (Advisor™ HD Grid Mapping Catheter with EnSite VelocityTM, Abbott Medical) was used for endocardial mapping of the right atrium. The P-wave on the surface ECG was used as a timing reference for simultaneous local activation time- and bipolar voltage-mapping. For a positional reference a 10-pole catheter (Abbott Medical) was placed in the caudal vena cava. Results: Endocardial right atrial mapping guided by the three-dimensional mapping system and local electrograms was successfully performed in all four horses. A median of 32719 [25499-65078] points, covering the entire right atrium, were collected. Three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping provided detailed information about activation patterns and electrogram-characteristics of the sinoatrial node, intervenous tubercle and cavotricuspid isthmus. Additionally, transvenous biopsy forceps connected to the mapping system were visualised on screen to guide biopsy collection. Conclusions: The feasibility of electroanatomical mapping for the left atrium and in larger breeds requires further study. Conclusions: High-density three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping of the right atrium is feasible in the standing horse.
© 2020 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2020-05-14 PubMed ID: 32285961PubMed Central: PMC7818172DOI: 10.1111/evj.13265Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Cardiovascular Health
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Prevention
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Research
- Horses
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article presents a study on the use of three-dimensional (3D) electroanatomical mapping, a tool used in cardiology, to map the heart structures of standing horses. The aim is to enable better diagnosis and treatment of equine heart conditions.
Research Methods
- The study is a proof of concept involving four Standardbred horses, two geldings, and two mares that range from 4 to 9 years old and weight between 440 to 550 kg.
- All the horses were sedated and then placed in stocks.
- Through the jugular vein, the researchers inserted a high-density multipolar grid catheter to map the endocardium – the innermost lining of the heart’s chambers, focusing on the right atrium.
- The timing of the P-wave, a feature in an ECG that signifies electric activity in the atrium, was used as a reference for local activation time- and bipolar voltage-mapping.
- For position reference, a 10-pole catheter was used in the caudal vena cava, a major vein that returns deoxygenated blood to the heart.
Results
- The researchers successfully used the 3D mapping system to guide endocardial right atrial mapping in all four horses.
- A median of 32719 points were collected, covering the entire right atrium.
- The mapping provided detailed info on the activation patterns and electrogram-features of the sinoatrial node (the natural pacemaker of the heart), the intervenous tubercle (a small muscular elevation present on the interior walls of the right atrium), and the cavotricuspid isthmus (part of the right atrium located between the inferior vena cava and the tricuspid valve).
- The system was used with transvenous biopsy forceps for on-screen guidance during biopsy collection.
Conclusion
- The researchers found that 3D electroanatomical mapping of the right atrium is feasible in standing horses.
- The applicability of the technique for the left atrium and in larger breeds requires additional research.
Cite This Article
APA
Hesselkilde E, Linz D, Saljic A, Carstensen H, Kutieleh R, Jespersen T, Sanders P, Buhl R.
(2020).
First catheter-based high-density endocardial 3D electroanatomical mapping of the right atrium in standing horses.
Equine Vet J, 53(1), 186-193.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13265 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, Royal Adelaide Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Abbott Medical, Adelaide, Australia.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, Royal Adelaide Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac / veterinary
- Catheter Ablation / veterinary
- Catheters
- Female
- Heart Atria
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Male
Grant Funding
- Novo Nordisk Fonden
- 8020-00415B / Danish Research Council (DFF)
Conflict of Interest Statement
Rayed Kutieleh is employed by Abbott Medical.
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Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Haugaard SL, Schneider MJ, Kjeldsen ST, Sattler SM, Bastrup JA, Saljic A, Birk JB, Hansen C, Synnestvedt JN, van Hunnik A, Sobota V, Carstensen H, Hopster-Iversen C, Schwarzwald CC, Altintaş A, Barrès R, Jepps TA, Larsen S, Kjøbsted R, Wojtaszewski JFP, Barrado Ballestero S, Roostalu U, Herum KM, Jespersen T, Nattel S, Nissen SD, Buhl R. Metformin Protects Against Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in an Equine Model. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2025 Dec;18(12):e013850.
- Buschmann E, Van Steenkiste G, Vernemmen I, Demeyere M, Schauvliege S, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Multiple Catheter Recording in Horses to Investigate Atrial Depolarization Pattern During Sinus Rhythm and Induced Premature Atrial Complexes. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Sep-Oct;39(5):e70218.
- Nissen SD, Bastrup JA, Haugaard SL, Marion-Knudsen R, Schneider M, Kjeldsen ST, Carstensen H, Hopster-Iversen C, Nattel S, Jepps TA, Buhl R. Horse model of spontaneous atrial fibrillation share proteomic changes with humans. Sci Rep 2025 Aug 28;15(1):31694.
- Van Steenkiste G, Boussy T, Duytschaever M, Vernemmen I, Schauvlieghe S, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Detection of the origin of atrial tachycardia by 3D electro-anatomical mapping and treatment by radiofrequency catheter ablation in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Jul;36(4):1481-1490.
- Nissen SD, Weis R, Krag-Andersen EK, Hesselkilde EM, Isaksen JL, Carstensen H, Kanters JK, Linz D, Sanders P, Hopster-Iversen C, Jespersen T, Pehrson S, Buhl R. Electrocardiographic characteristics of trained and untrained standardbred racehorses. J Vet Intern Med 2022 May;36(3):1119-1130.
- Kjeldsen ST, Nissen SD, Buhl R, Hopster-Iversen C. Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Horses: Pathophysiology, Diagnostics and Clinical Aspects. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 10;12(6).
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