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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of the right ...
BMC veterinary research2019; 15(1); 43; doi: 10.1186/s12917-019-1792-1

Two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of the right coronary artery in healthy horses – a pilot study.

Abstract: Precise understanding of the dimensions of the vascular lumina is essential for accurate interpretation of cardiac vessels imaging. To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first study focusing on the ultrasound measurement of the right coronary artery (RCA) in the horse. The aim of this study was to determine both the ultrasonographic range of the normal diameter and lumen area of the RCA in horses and the influence of gender, age and level of training on the RCA dimensions. An additional aim of the study was to assess intra- and inter-observer repeatability of the collected measurements. Methods: Thirty-six privately owned, healthy horses were included in the study. The internal lumen diameter and the area of the RCA were measured in the right parasternal long axis view in the 3rd intercostal space during systole and diastole. The results were compared between groups using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t-test. The correlation between the physiological parameters and the RCA was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficient. Student's t-test was used to compare the results obtained by two researchers and from two scanners. Results: The mean diameter of the RCA was 13.1 ± 1.5 mm in systole and 11.5 ± 1.3 mm in diastole, and the mean area was 1.3 ± 0.2 cm and 1.1 ± 0.2 cm, respectively. There were no statistically significant measurement differences between geldings and mares. A positive correlation between body weight and RCA dimensions as well as height and RCA dimensions were seen. There was a negative correlation between the age and the RCA area. A statistically significant difference in the RCA area was seen between race and retired horses. Intra- and inter-observer agreement was strong with a few statistically significant differences. Conclusions: The age, size, and level of training may affect the ultrasound measurement of the RCA in horses. Non-invasive transthoracic echocardiography may be used to assess the size of the right coronary vessel in various types of horses.
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Publication Date: 2019-01-28 PubMed ID: 30691453PubMed Central: PMC6348654DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-1792-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The article summarizes a study aimed at determining the normal diameter and lumen area of the right coronary artery (RCA) in horses using ultrasonography and assessing the influence of factors such as gender, age, and level of training on these dimensions.

Research Methodology

  • The sample population for this study comprised 36 privately owned, healthy horses.
  • The researchers used ultrasonography to measure the internal lumen diameter and the area of the RCA in these horses. These measurements were taken in the right parasternal long axis view in the 3rd intercostal space during systole and diastole.
  • They used statistical tests like ANOVA, Student’s t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient to compare and relate these measurements. For example, they used a t-test to compare results from two different researchers and scanners.

Study Results

  • The researchers found that the mean diameter of the RCA was 13.1 ± 1.5 mm during systole and 11.5 ± 1.3 mm during diastole.
  • The mean area of the RCA was reported to be 1.3 ± 0.2 cm during systole and 1.1 ± 0.2 cm during diastole.
  • No significant differences in RCA measurements were found between male and female horses (geldings and mares).
  • A positive correlation was observed between both body weight and height on one side and RCA dimensions on the other. This means that as horse’s body weight or height increases, so do the RCA dimensions.
  • A negative correlation was noted between age and RCA area, indicating that the RCA area decreases as the horse ages.
  • The RCA area varied significantly between racing horses and those that had retired.
  • The intra- and inter-observer agreement in measurements was strong, with only a few significant differences seen. This indicates that the same measurements were largely consistent across multiple readings and readers.

Study Conclusions

  • The ultrasound measurement of the RCA in horses may be affected by factors such as age, size, and level of training.
  • This study highlighted the usefulness of non-invasive transthoracic echocardiography as a tool for assessing the size of the right coronary vessel in different types of horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Siwinska N, Michalek M, Zak A, Slowikowska M, Noszczyk-Nowak A, Niedzwiedz A, Paslawska U. (2019). Two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of the right coronary artery in healthy horses – a pilot study. BMC Vet Res, 15(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-019-1792-1

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Pages: 43
PII: 43

Researcher Affiliations

Siwinska, Natalia
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland. natalia.siwinska@upwr.edu.pl.
Michalek, Marcin
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Zak, Agnieszka
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Slowikowska, Malwina
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Noszczyk-Nowak, Agnieszka
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Niedzwiedz, Artur
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Paslawska, Urszula
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Coronary Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Echocardiography / standards
  • Echocardiography / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Observer Variation
  • Pilot Projects
  • Sex Factors

Conflict of Interest Statement

ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: In accordance with the Experiments on Animals Act from January 15th 2015 (Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland, 2015, item. 266), concerning the welfare of the animals used for research or teaching purposes, the provisions shall not apply to: 1. veterinary services as defined by the Act from December 18th 2003 concerning veterinary practices (Journal of Laws from 2004, No. 11, item 95 as amended in item 3), as well as agricultural activity, raising and breeding livestock according to the Animal Welfare Act, not designed to carry out medical procedures; 2. clinical veterinary studies carried out according to Article 37ah-37ak of the Act from September 6th 2001 – Pharmaceutical Law (Journal of Laws from 2008, No. 45, item 271 as amended in item 4); 3. activity aimed at identifying animals; 4. capturing wild animals for biometric and systematic assessment; 5. veterinary procedures which to not cause pain, suffering, distress or permanent health impairment equal to or more invasive than the insertion of a needle. Hence, the study entitled “Echocardiographic measurements of the right coronary artery in healthy horses.” does not require the approval of the Ethics Committee. All procedures were performed during the study with the owner consent. CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not applicable. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors state that there are no conflicts of interest. None of the aforementioned companies had any involvement, direct or indirect, in the development of the manuscript and the works reflects the opinions solely of the authors. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Cruz-Aleixo AS, de Oliveira KC, de Oliveira Ferreira LV, Cedeo Quevedo DA, Cruz RKS, Tsunemi MH, Chiacchio SB, Lourenço MLG. Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic Parameters in Pega Breed Donkeys: A Descriptive Study.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 27;13(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13050861pubmed: 36899718google scholar: lookup
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