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BMC veterinary research2016; 12(1); 268; doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0893-3

Reliability of breath by breath spirometry and relative flow-time indices for pulmonary function testing in horses.

Abstract: Respiratory problems are common in horses, and are often diagnosed as a cause of poor athletic performance. Reliable, accurate and sensitive spirometric tests of airway function in resting horses would assist with the diagnosis of limitations to breathing and facilitate investigations of the effects of various treatments on breathing capacity. The evaluation of respiratory function in horses is challenging and suitable procedures are not widely available to equine practitioners. The determination of relative flow or flow-time measures is used in paediatric patients where compliance may limit conventional pulmonary function techniques. The aim of the current study was to characterise absolute and relative indices of respiratory function in healthy horses during eupnoea (tidal breathing) and carbon dioxide (CO)-induced hyperpnoea (rebreathing) using a modified mask pneumotrachographic technique well suited to equine practice, and to evaluate the reliability of this technique over three consecutive days. Coefficients of variation, intra-class correlations, mean differences and 95% confidence intervals across all days of testing were established for each parameter. Results: The technique provided absolute measures of respiratory function (respiratory rate, tidal volume, peak inspiratory and expiratory flows, time to peak flow) consistent with previous studies and there was no significant effect of day on any measure of respiratory function. Variability of measurements was decreased during hyperpnea caused by rebreathing CO, but a number of relative flow-time variables demonstrated good agreement during eupnoeic respiration. Conclusions: The technique was well tolerated by horses and study findings suggest the technique is suitable for evaluation of respiratory function in horses. The use of relative flow-time variables provided reproducible (consistent) results, suggesting the technique may be of use for repeated measures studies in horses during tidal breathing or rebreathing.
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Publication Date: 2016-11-28 PubMed ID: 27894292PubMed Central: PMC5126818DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0893-3Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 article investigates the reliability and accuracy of using breath-by-breath spirometry to analyze respiratory function in horses, specifically during regular and CO2-induced increased breathing. Various absolute and relative indices of respiratory function were determined using this method, with results suggesting the technique is suitable for observing respiratory function in horses.

Introduction and Aim

  • The research focuses on the effectiveness of spirometric tests to examine airway function and diagnose breathing issues in horses at rest.
  • This study aims to provide a reliable method for diagnosing respiratory problems in horses, which are often linked to poor athletic performance.
  • Given that conventional pulmonary function techniques are often limited by compliance issues in pediatric patients, the study explores the use of relative flow or flow-time measurement in equine patients.
  • The study utilizes a modified mask pneumotrachographic technique to measure respiratory function during periods of regular breathing (eupnoea) and CO2-induced increased breathing (hyperpnoea) in horses.

Methodology

  • The study was conducted over three consecutive days to evaluate the reliability of the technique.
  • The reliability was determined by establishing coefficients of variation, intra-class correlations, mean differences, and 95% confidence intervals for each parameter across the testing days.

Results

  • According to the research, the technique provided consistent measures of respiratory function (respiratory rate, tidal volume, peak inspiratory and expiratory flows, and time to peak flow) irrespective of the day of the test.
  • The study found that measurement variability decreased during hyperpnoea caused by CO2 rebreathing.
  • Furthermore, certain relative flow-time variables showed good agreement in periods of eupnoeic respiration.

Conclusion

  • The pneumotrachographic technique was well tolerated by the horses and deemed suitable for examining respiratory function.
  • The use of relative flow-time variables provided consistent results, suggesting potential utility of the technique for repeated trials in horses during regular breathing or rebreathing situations.
  • Overall, the study highlighted the potential of leveraging breath-by-breath spirometry for accurate and sensitive quantitative analysis of equine respiratory conditions.

Cite This Article

APA
Burnheim K, Hughes KJ, Evans DL, Raidal SL. (2016). Reliability of breath by breath spirometry and relative flow-time indices for pulmonary function testing in horses. BMC Vet Res, 12(1), 268. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-016-0893-3

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Pages: 268
PII: 268

Researcher Affiliations

Burnheim, K
  • School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, 2650, NSW, Australia.
Hughes, K J
  • School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, 2650, NSW, Australia.
Evans, D L
  • School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, 2650, NSW, Australia.
Raidal, S L
  • School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, 2650, NSW, Australia. sraidal@csu.edu.au.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horses / physiology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Respiratory Function Tests / veterinary
  • Spirometry / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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