Assessment of cardiac indices using M-mode echocardiography in horse with tachycardia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of tachycardia associated with abdominal pain in horse with colic on echocardiographic measurements. For this purpose, 20 horses were selected for this study; from which 10 healthy horses were randomly selected (control group), and 10 diseased horses exhibiting the clinical signs of flatulent colic referred to the hospital of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt. Cardiac functions were evaluated using M- mode echocardiography for measurement of the cardiac indices and functions. In horses with flatulent colic, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in interventricular septal thickness at end- systole (IVSTs), left ventricular internal diameter at end- diastole (LVIDd), left ventricular posterior wall at end-diastole (LVPWd), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) compared with control group. However, there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in left ventricular volume at end- systole (ESV) in comparison with control group. The results of the present study indicate that evaluation of cardiac indices and functions via echocardiography may be of great benefit for evaluation of clinical outcome of tachycardia associated with abdominal pain in horses.