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Noninvasive determination of atrial fibrillation cycle length by atrial colour tissue Doppler imaging in horses.
Abstract: Atrial fibrillation cycle length (AFCL) is an indicator of atrial electrical remodelling during atrial fibrillation (AF). Objective: To compare AFCL measured invasively from an intra-atrial electrogram (AFCLEGM ) with AFCL measured noninvasively by atrial colour tissue Doppler imaging (AFCLTDI ). Methods: Prospective descriptive clinical study. Methods: Measurements were performed in 31 episodes of AF or flutter in 29 horses (588 ± 61 kg bwt, 9 ± 3 years old) admitted for transvenous electrical cardioversion. The AFCLEGM was measured from an intracardiac electrogram using a bipolar sensing/pacing electrode inserted into the right atrium. The AFCLTDI was measured from atrial colour tissue velocity curves in the following 5 regions: 1) left atrial free wall from a right parasternal 4-chamber view, 2) left atrial free wall from a short-axis view, 3) left atrial free wall from a left parasternal long-axis view, 4) interatrial septum, and 5) right atrial dorsal wall near the tuberculum intervenosum. The AFCLEGM and AFCLTDI from the 5 regions were compared using a one-way repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons and calculation of the Bland-Altman mean bias and limits of agreement of AFCLEGM and AFCLTDI . Results: The AFCLEGM was 161 ± 18 ms in 29 AF episodes. Two horses showed atrial flutter and had an AFCLEGM of 244 and 324 ms. The mean bias between AFCLTDI and AFCLEGM ranged from -18 to +9 ms depending on the atrial wall region. The AFCLTDI was significantly shorter in the left atrial free wall from the right parasternal 4-chamber view and short-axis view than in the other regions (P<0.001). Conclusions: Tissue Doppler imaging allows noninvasive measurement of AFCL in horses with AF and is able to identify spatial differences within the equine atria. Atrial fibrillation cycle length is an indicator of atrial electrical remodelling and is an important parameter to study AF pathophysiology or the effect of antiarrhythmic drugs.
© 2013 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2013-08-30 PubMed ID: 23738919DOI: 10.1111/evj.12108Google Scholar: Lookup 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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Atrial Function
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiovascular Health
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Treatment
- Echocardiography
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Noninvasive Procedures
- Pathophysiology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
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.
The research is about the use of tissue Doppler imaging as a noninvasive method for measuring atrial fibrillation cycle length (AFCL) in horses. The study compares this method with the traditionally invasive procedure via an intra-atrial electrogram.
Objective and Methods of the Study
- The main aim of the research was to compare AFCL as measured by an invasive intra-atrial electrogram (AFCLEGM), and noninvasively through atrial color tissue Doppler imaging (AFCLTDI).
- This is a prospective clinical study which involved 31 instances of atrial fibrillation or flutter suffered by 29 horses that were brought in for transvenous electrical cardioversion, a method to restore heart rhythm.
- The AFCLEGM was determined through a bipolar sensing/pacing electrode inserted into the right atrium of the horse, while the AFCLTDI was measured from atrial color tissue velocity curves in five specific regions of the heart.
Results and Findings
- Findings showed that the mean AFCLEGM was 161 ± 18 ms in 29 atrial fibrillation cases. In two instances of atrial flutter, the measured AFCLEGM was 244 and 324 ms.
- The mean bias between AFCLTDI and AFCLEGM ranged from -18 to +9 ms but this varied depending on the atrial wall region examined.
- The AFCLTDI was notably shorter in the left atrial free wall as viewed from the right parasternal 4-chamber and the short-axis, as compared to the other regions. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.001).
Conclusions and Applications
- The researchers concluded that tissue Doppler imaging offers an effective, noninvasive way of measuring the AFCL in horses affected by atrial fibrillation.
- Furthermore, the method was able to pinpoint spatial differences inside the equine atria, improving the precision of local assessments.
- The ability to measure AFCL – an important parameter that reflects atrial electrical remodeling – has significant connotations for studying the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation or evaluating the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic drugs in real-time.
Cite This Article
APA
Decloedt A, de Clercq D, van der Vekens N, Verheyen T, van Loon G.
(2013).
Noninvasive determination of atrial fibrillation cycle length by atrial colour tissue Doppler imaging in horses.
Equine Vet J, 46(2), 174-179.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12108 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Atrial Fibrillation / diagnosis
- Atrial Fibrillation / diagnostic imaging
- Atrial Fibrillation / physiopathology
- Atrial Fibrillation / veterinary
- Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / veterinary
- Female
- Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging
- Heart Atria / physiopathology
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- 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).
- Vernemmen I, Van Steenkiste G, Dufourni A, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Transvenous electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation in horses: Horse and procedural factors correlated with success and recurrence. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Mar;36(2):758-769.
- Nath LC, Elliott AD, Weir J, Curl P, Rosanowski SM, Franklin S. Incidence, recurrence, and outcome of postrace atrial fibrillation in Thoroughbred horses. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Mar;35(2):1111-1120.
- Decloedt A, Broux B, De Clercq D, Deprez P, Van Steenkiste G, Vera L, Ven S, van Loon G. Effect of sotalol on heart rate, QT interval, and atrial fibrillation cycle length in horses with atrial fibrillation. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Mar;32(2):815-821.
- Koenig TR, Mitchell KJ, Schwarzwald CC. Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Function in Healthy Horses and in Horses with Heart Disease Using Pulsed-Wave Tissue Doppler Imaging. J Vet Intern Med 2017 Mar;31(2):556-567.
- Decloedt A, Schwarzwald CC, De Clercq D, Van Der Vekens N, Pardon B, Reef VB, van Loon G. Risk factors for recurrence of atrial fibrillation in horses after cardioversion to sinus rhythm. J Vet Intern Med 2015 May-Jun;29(3):946-53.
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