Pulmonary function testing in horses.
Abstract: Pulmonary function tests in horses are in the early stages of development and there will be a limit in the range of tests available since those requiring patient cooperation cannot be conducted in animals. Some tests such as blood gas analysis, A-aDo2 and delta Ppl measurements could presently be used to a greater extent under field conditions. Others that require expensive equipment and considerable technical assistance will be limited to the larger referral type veterinary clinics until the time is reached when there is adequate information to select those procedures that give a reasonable cost to benefit ratio to make their use more widespread.
Publication Date: 1979-05-01 PubMed ID: 388831DOI: 10.1016/s0196-9846(17)30204-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Review
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Field Study
- Horses
- Pulmonary Health
- Respiratory Disease
- Respiratory Health
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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This research article discusses the current state and future potential of pulmonary function testing in horses, noting that it is in early development stages and has some limitations, including the need for costly equipment and technical help, and the inability for some tests to be done due to lack of patient cooperation.
Pulmonary Function Tests in Horses
- The article begins by acknowledging that pulmonary function testing in horses is still in its infancy, but that these tests can potentially contribute a lot to understanding and improving equine health.
- The authors note that not all the tests that are commonly used in humans can be used in horses since some require the cooperation of the patient, which is not feasible in animals. Examples of these include spirometry or lung volume tests which require the patient to breathe in and out forcefully and deeply.
Potential Use Under Field Conditions
- The article points out that currently there are some tests that are feasible and could be used more extensively under field conditions, providing valuable insights into equine pulmonary health.
- These more feasible tests include blood gas analysis, Arterial- alveolar oxygen difference (A-aDo2), and changes in pleural pressure (∆Ppl) measurements. The blood gas analysis measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and could be useful in evaluating the respiratory functions in horses. A-aDo2 is the difference between the oxygen pressure in the alveoli and in the arteries. This test is useful in diagnosing diffusion impairments. Delta Ppl is a measure of the changes in pleural pressure and can help in assessing the mechanical properties of the chest wall and lungs.
Limitations and Cost Considerations
- The authors state that there are potential tests that require expensive equipment and considerable technical assistance.
- These would likely only be feasible in larger, referral-based veterinary clinics with greater financial resources and specialized staff. Until there is more definitive information on which procedures provide a beneficial cost-to-benefit ratio, the widespread usage of such tests may not grow significantly.
- This connects back to the early stage of development of pulmonary function tests in horses – as more research and understanding emerges, it will become clearer which tests are most effective and how they can be made more accessible and cost-effective.
Cite This Article
APA
Willoughby RA, McDonell WN.
(1979).
Pulmonary function testing in horses.
Vet Clin North Am Large Anim Pract, 1(1), 171-196.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0196-9846(17)30204-5 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Specimen Collection / veterinary
- Carbon Dioxide / blood
- Functional Residual Capacity
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Lung Compliance
- Lung Diseases / diagnosis
- Lung Diseases / veterinary
- Oxygen / blood
- Pulmonary Circulation
- Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity
- Respiratory Function Tests / veterinary
- Spirometry / veterinary
- Tidal Volume
- Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
- Work of Breathing
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Adamič N, Prpar Mihevc S, Blagus R, Kramarič P, Krapež U, Majdič G, Viel L, Hoffman AM, Bienzle D, Vengust M. Effect of intrabronchial administration of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on severe equine asthma.. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022 Jan 21;13(1):23.
- Herholz C, Straub R, Lüthi S, Imhof A, Busato A. Differences in pulmonary functional indices derived from the single-breath diagram for CO2 (SBD-CO2) in horses related to age, sex and usage.. Vet Res Commun 2002 Aug;26(6):467-78.
- Thorsen J, Willoughby RA, McDonell W, Valli VE, Viel L, Bignell W. Influenza hemagglutination inhibiting activity in respiratory mucus from horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (heaves syndrome).. Can J Comp Med 1983 Jul;47(3):332-5.
- Lekeux P, Hajer R, Breukink HJ. Intrathoracic pressure measurement in cattle: standardized procedure.. Can J Comp Med 1984 Oct;48(4):420-1.
- Mirbahar KB, McDonell WN, Bignell W, Eyre P. Effects of aerosolized histamine and carbachol in the conscious horse.. Can J Comp Med 1985 Apr;49(2):211-8.
- Art T, Lekeux P. A critical assessment of pulmonary function testing in exercising ponies.. Vet Res Commun 1988;12(1):25-39.
- Art T, Lekeux P. Respiratory airflow patterns in ponies at rest and during exercise.. Can J Vet Res 1988 Jul;52(3):299-303.
- Lekeux P, Hajer R, Boon JH, Verstegen MW, Breukink HJ. Physiological effects of experimental verminous bronchitis in Friesian calves.. Can J Comp Med 1985 Apr;49(2):205-7.
- Soma LR, Beech J, Gerber NH Jr. Effects of cromolyn in horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.. Vet Res Commun 1987;11(4):339-51.
- Ducharme NG, Viel L, Partlow GD, Hulland TJ, Horney FD. Attempts to restore abduction of the paralyzed equine arytenoid cartilage. III. Nerve anastomosis.. Can J Vet Res 1989 Apr;53(2):216-23.
- Gallivan GJ, McDonell WN. An evaluation of the multiple-breath nitrogen washout as a pulmonary function test in dairy cattle.. Can J Vet Res 1989 Apr;53(2):133-42.
- Gallivan GJ, Viel L, McDonell WN. An evaluation of the multiple-breath nitrogen washout as a pulmonary function test in horses.. Can J Vet Res 1990 Jan;54(1):99-105.
- Doucet MY, Vrins AA, Ford-Hutchinson AW. Histamine inhalation challenge in normal horses and in horses with small airway disease.. Can J Vet Res 1991 Jul;55(3):285-93.
- Gallivan GJ, Viel L, Baird JD, McDonell WN. Pulmonary structure and function in adult dairy cows with an expanded lung field.. Can J Vet Res 1991 Jan;55(1):15-20.
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