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Veterinary research communications2024; 49(1); 31; doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10576-w

Smartphone-based ECG assessment of heart rhythm at birth in healthy foals born after spontaneous or induced parturition: is there a potential difference?

Abstract: Background- Subclinical electrophysiological derangements occur at birth in foals. Smartphone-based ECG (spECG) is practical tools to assess heart rhythm and was recently validated in foals. Objectives-To assess the heart rate (HR) and rhythm at birth in clinically healthy foals born after spontaneous and induced parturition using a spECG. Animals- Newborn healthy foals born after at term spontaneous (SF) or induced foaling (IF). Methods- Cohort study. In SF and IF groups, a spECG was performed immediately at birth (T0) and after 5 min (T5). SpECG tracings were selected for quality. HR was manually calculated and was compared between groups and time-points. Tracings were manually interpreted for rhythm diagnosis. Results- Eighty-one spECG tracings owing to 42 healthy foals (36 SF, 6 IF) were of adequate quality. There were no significant differences in HR between SF and IF and between T0 and T5 (p > 0.05). Six foals were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and 4 with sinus arrhythmia. Conclusions and clinical importance- The spECG was feasible and detected subclinical arrhythmias at birth. A potential relationship with induced foaling warrants confirmation. Provided good quality tracing is obtained, the device might assist in the clinical assessment at birth, especially in screening high-risk foals.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
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Publication Date: 2024-11-23 PubMed ID: 39579321PubMed Central: 10998801DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10576-wGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This study explored the use of smartphone-based ECG (spECG) in assessing the heart rate and rhythm of newborn foals, whether they are birthed spontaneously or via induced parturition. The researchers found no significant differences in heart rates between the two types of birth, but noted that the spECG was able to detect subclinical arrhythmias.

About the Study

  • The study uses spECG technology – a practical tool recently validated for use with foals – to assess the heart rate and rhythm of healthy newborn foals that have either been birthed spontaneously (SF) or via induced foaling (IF).
  • This was a cohort study where spECG was performed immediately at the time of birth (T0) and then again 5 minutes after birth (T5).
  • The researchers manually calculated heart rates and compared these between the SF and IF groups, as well as between the two-time points, T0 and T5.
  • SpECG tracings were manually interpreted in order to diagnose rhythm anomalies.

Findings of the Study

  • A total of 81 spECG tracings from 42 healthy foals (36 SF, 6 IF) were of adequate quality for analysis.
  • No significant differences were found in heart rates between SF and IF foals. Similarly, heart rates did not significantly vary between T0 and T5.
  • However, there were six foals diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and four with sinus arrhythmia, suggesting a possible link with the method of birth. This potential link between induced foaling and the incidence of arrhythmias will need further research for confirmation.

Implications of the Study

  • The use of spECG was deemed feasible for detection of subclinical arrhythmias at birth in foals, regardless of their birth type.
  • Given that good quality tracing can be obtained, the spECG technology could be helpful in the clinical evaluation of newborn foals, especially those considered high-risk.

Conclusions

  • This study concludes that smartphone-based ECG can provide useful insights into heart rate and rhythm immediately after birth in foals.
  • While it was found that there were no significant differences in heart rates between spontaneous and induced foaling, there might be a potential association of induced parturition with subclinical arrhythmias, that needs further exploration.
  • However, the study reaffirms that provided a good quality tracing can be achieved, spECG technology will be a valuable tool especially in screening high-risk foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Petrucelli M, Sgorbini M, Castagnetti C, Lanci A, Mariella J, Marmorini P, Freccero F. (2024). Smartphone-based ECG assessment of heart rhythm at birth in healthy foals born after spontaneous or induced parturition: is there a potential difference? Vet Res Commun, 49(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-024-10576-w

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 1
Pages: 31

Researcher Affiliations

Petrucelli, Marina
  • Private Practitioner, Rome, Italy.
Sgorbini, Micaela
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Teaching Hospital Mario Modenato, Pisa, Italy. micaela.sgorbini@unipi.it.
Castagnetti, Carolina
  • Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Lanci, Aliai
  • Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Mariella, Jole
  • Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Marmorini, Paola
  • Private Practitioner, Pisa, Italia.
Freccero, Francesca
  • Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • Smartphone
  • Electrocardiography / veterinary
  • Electrocardiography / instrumentation
  • Animals, Newborn / physiology
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Female
  • Parturition / physiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / veterinary
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / diagnosis
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / physiopathology
  • Cohort Studies

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Ethics approval: The experiments were conducted following the Guide for the Care and Use of Animals in Research and Teaching, after the approval of the Ethic Committee of the University of Pisa (OPBA #45865/2016). Consent of participation: Informed consent was obtained from all the owners of individual animals included in the study. Consent for publication: All authors consent to publish the manuscript. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. None of the authors had a financial or personal relationship with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.

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