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Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of equine respiratory mechanics by impulse oscillometry.
Abstract: The long-established conventional reference technique (CRT) for measuring respiratory mechanics in horses lacks sensitivity and there is a need for further refinement in new technology, such as the impulse oscillometry system (IOS). Objective: To evaluate the potential use of the IOS as a clinical respiratory function test and compare it to the current CRT in horses suffering from common upper and lower airway dysfunctions. Methods: Six healthy horses were tested before and after induction of a unilateral nasal obstruction (UNO) or transient left laryngeal hemiplegia (LLH). Six heaves-affected horses were tested in clinical remission and during a heaves crisis, before and after nebulisation of cumulative doses of a bronchodilator therapy (ipratropium bromide; IPB). Results: As opposed to the CRT, the IOS was able to detect partial upper airway obstruction (UAO) caused by UNO or LLH in resting horses, without differentiating both conditions. Upper airway obstruction caused an upward shift of resistance (R(rs)) from 5 to 35 Hz without altering reactance (X(rs)). As for the CRT, IOS respiratory parameters measured in heaves-affected horses in crisis differed significantly from values measured during remission. The difference in frequency-dependent behaviour of R(rs) and X(rs) allowed discrimination between upper and lower airway obstructions. Bronchodilator treatment induced significant dose-dependent changes in X(rs) at 5 and 10 Hz, from the first dose. Total pulmonary resistance (RL) and R(rs) at 5 Hz were affected from the second dose and displayed similar sensitivity. Although post treatment RL values were comparable to remission, R(rs) and X(rs) remained significantly different, characterising persistent peripheral obstruction. Conclusions: The IOS was more sensitive than the CRT in detecting partial UAO in resting horses and persistent post treatment peripheral dysfunction in heaves-affected horses. The IOS is a sensitive test that provides graded quantitative and qualitative information on disease-induced respiratory dysfunctions as well as on treatment efficiency in horses. Conclusions: The IOS could represent a practical and sensitive alternative respiratory function test for routine clinical investigations of common airway obstructive diseases and therapy in horses.
Publication Date: 2006-01-18 PubMed ID: 16411587DOI: 10.2746/042516406775374252Google 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.
- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Bronchodilation
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Pharmacology
- Respiratory Disease
- Respiratory Health
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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This research evaluated the impulse oscillometry system (IOS) as a better alternative to the conventional reference technique (CRT) in detecting respiratory dysfunctions in horses. The study found the IOS to be more sensitive in identifying partial upper airway obstructions and persistent post-treatment dysfunction in horses with breathing difficulties, therefore suggesting it as a practical respiratory function test for routine clinical investigations.
Objective of Study
The study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of Impulse Oscillometry System (IOS) in detecting respiratory disorder in horses. The IOS was compared with the long-established conventional reference technique (CRT), which according to the researchers lacks sensitivity.
- The IOS was tested on horses with induced nasal obstruction or laryngeal hemiplegia conditions, as well as horses affected by heaves.
- Comparing the results of the IOS and CRT was a vital aspect of the research, to further validate the effectiveness of IOS.
Research Methodology
To portray the efficacy of IOS over CRT:
- The scientists performed tests on six healthy horses before and after inducing unilateral nasal obstruction (UNO) or transient left laryngeal hemiplegia (LLH).
- The same set of horses were then tested during heaves remission and during a heaves crisis, after each cumulative dose of a bronchodilator
Key Findings
The findings illustrated the superiority of IOS in detecting respiratory dysfunctions, both in the upper and lower airway obstructions.
- The IOS detected partial upper airway obstruction (UAO) caused by induced conditions which CRT failed to notice.
- Upon using IOS, the results displayed significant differences in the parameters from heaves-affected horses in crisis compared to remission, similar to CRT results.
- Due to the IOS’s ability to capture frequency-dependent behavior, it could distinguish between upper and lower airway obstructions.
- In comparison with CRT, the IOS was found to be more sensitive in detecting partial upper airway obstruction in resting horses, and persistent post-treatment peripheral dysfunction in horses suffering from heaves.
Conclusion
Based on the results, IOS outperformed CRT in detecting UAO and could provide data that is both quantity- and quality-graded on disease-induced respiratory dysfunctions, along with the efficiency of treatment in horses. Hence, IOS was recommended as a practical alternative test for routine clinical investigations of common airway obstructive diseases and treatments in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Van Erck E, Votion D, Art T, Lekeux P.
(2006).
Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of equine respiratory mechanics by impulse oscillometry.
Equine Vet J, 38(1), 52-58.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516406775374252 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Airway Obstruction / diagnosis
- Airway Obstruction / veterinary
- Airway Resistance
- Animals
- Bronchial Provocation Tests / veterinary
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Ipratropium / immunology
- Oscillometry / methods
- Oscillometry / standards
- Oscillometry / veterinary
- Reference Values
- Reproducibility of Results
- Respiratory Function Tests / methods
- Respiratory Function Tests / standards
- Respiratory Function Tests / veterinary
- Respiratory Mechanics / physiology
- Sensitivity and Specificity
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Woodrow JS, Sheats MK, Cooper B, Bayless R. Asthma: The Use of Animal Models and Their Translational Utility. Cells 2023 Apr 5;12(7).
- Stucchi L, Ferrucci F, Bullone M, Dellacà RL, Lavoie JP. Within-Breath Oscillatory Mechanics in Horses Affected by Severe Equine Asthma in Exacerbation and in Remission of the Disease. Animals (Basel) 2021 Dec 21;12(1).
- Onmaz AC, Stoklas-Schmidt C, van den Hoven R. Daily variability of forced oscillometry parameters in horses suffering recurrent airway obstruction, a pilot study. Vet Res Commun 2013 Mar;37(1):11-7.
- Toussaint M, Fievez L, Desmet CJ, Pirottin D, Farnir F, Bureau F, Lekeux P. Increased hypoxia-inducible factor 1α expression in lung cells of horses with recurrent airway obstruction. BMC Vet Res 2012 May 23;8:64.
- Ramery E, Fievez L, Fraipont A, Bureau F, Lekeux P. Characterization of pentraxin 3 in the horse and its expression in airways. Vet Res 2010 Mar-Apr;41(2):18.
- Lo Feudo CM, Ferrucci F, Bizzotto D, Dellacà R, Lavoie JP, Stucchi L. Differences in pulmonary function measured by oscillometry between horses with mild-moderate equine asthma and healthy controls. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):619-628.
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