Pulsed wave-Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of the common carotid artery in the resting horse: physiologic data.

The research presents the findings of a study that investigated blood flow in the carotid artery of healthy horses using pulsed wave-Doppler ultrasonography. The study found correlations between characteristics like body weight of horses and diameter of the carotid artery, and concluded the technique could be an effective tool for identifying particular physiological trends in horses.

Research Methodology

• The study was performed on 63 healthy Italian Saddlebred horses.
• A pulsed wave-Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation was executed on the common carotid arterial blood flow of each horse.
• The diameter of the vessel, blood flow parameters like systolic, diastolic and mean velocity, acceleration and deceleration of the systolic wave, and carotid pulse volume were assessed and calculated.
• The horses were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of an incisure (a notch or indentation) in the ascending branch of their systolic curve: one group with a bifid or two-peaked systolic curve, and the other with a monophasic or single-peaked aspect.

Key Findings

• The study found a correlation between the diameter of the carotid artery and the body weight of the horses.
• There was also a correlation between the carotid pulse volume and the flow velocity (systolic, diastolic and mean).
• The research indicated that a higher systolic pulse volume was identified in male subjects, in horses with greater body weight and in those with a monophasic systolic wave.

Implications of the Findings

• The correlations found in the study can aid in understanding the physiological variables in horses which can be dependent on the sex, body weight and the nature of the systolic wave.
• The use of pulsed wave-Doppler ultrasonography demonstrated its potential in veterinary practice for the evaluation of the carotid artery in horses, as it could identify specific physiological trends and allow for better diagnostic and treatment decisions.