Thoracic percussion to determine the caudal lung border in healthy horses.

This study compares the effectiveness of thoracic percussion and ultrasonography in determining the caudal lung border in horses. It suggests that percussion can accurately detect the lung border, similar to advanced imaging techniques like ultrasound.

Objective of the Research

The researchers aim to evaluate if thoracic percussion, a relatively simple and less technologically advanced method, can accurately identify the caudal lung border (lower edge of the lung) of horses, similar to thoracic ultrasonography.

Methodology

• The study involved fifteen randomly selected, healthy Warmblood horses.
• The caudal lung border of these horses was identified using both percussion and ultrasonography methods. This was done at the end of both the inspiration (inhaling) and expiration (exhaling) process on both sides of the horses’ thorax.
• A standard reference point close to the withers (the peak of the shoulder blades) of the horses was established to ensure consistent measurements.
• The distance between this reference point and the caudal lung border in different intercostal spaces (the area between two ribs) was measured using a tape measure.

Results

• The study concluded that there were no significant differences between the results obtained by percussion and ultrasonography in detecting the caudal lung border of horses.
• However, there were more significant differences found between inhaling and exhaling when using ultrasonography than with percussion in all intercostal spaces on both sides of the thorax.
• This difference was significant, with a P value of .028 in the 12th intercostal space on the right side of the horse’s thorax.

Conclusions

• The research determined that percussion is a reliable tool for the identification of the caudal lung border in healthy horses.
• It was noted that the displacement of the lung during respiration could cause differences, and this should be taken into account when using either percussion or ultrasonography method.