Phonocardiography in the horse: 1. The intracardiac phonocardiogram.

The research investigates the use of phonocardiography in horses to analyze and record heart sounds. Findings were found to be similar to those in human studies, contributing to current knowledge about heart sound production.

Methodology

• Using sensitive microtransducers, researchers conducted a phonocardiogram on eight horses.
• The intracardiac phonocardiogram was recorded right from their heart and in six out of the eight, it was also recorded from the left side.
• All four heart sounds were recorded, but not necessarily at all sites under examination.
• The timing of these sounds was associated with pressure events, i.e., the blood pressure variations within the heart chambers.

Findings

• Systolic ejection murmurs were recorded in the pulmonary artery and the aorta of the test subject horses.
• In two horses, diastolic murmurs were identified; these were horses previously diagnosed with aortic regurgitation.
• The maximum amplitude of these sounds was found in the left ventricle, serving as the source of sound production.

Comparison with Human Studies

• The findings of this study were observed to be analogous to those reported in phonocardiographic studies conducted on humans.
• The successful use of phonocardiography in equines helps in advocating its broader applicability and proves the basic sound production process in the heart to be similar across species.

Implications of the Research

• These findings provide more insights into the aspects of cardiovascular health and heart sound production in horses, which could potentially improve diagnostic and therapeutic approach in veterinary cardiology.
• This research supports current theories on heart sound production, adding to the existing body of cardiovascular research, with potential for additional interspecies applications.