Determination of the Association Between Heart Diameter and Myocardial Thickness with Body Weights in English Racing Horses by M-mode Echocardiography

Authors: TARIK BİLAL, YÜCEL MERAL

Abstract: In this study, the heart structures of 30 English racing horses with different weights were examined by M-mode echocardiography. Horses were separated into 3 groups of 10 horses. Group A consisted of the horses weighing between 350 and 400 kg, group B between 400 and 450 kg, and group C between 450 and 500 kg. M-mode sections were taken from transducer I (M. papillaris), transducer II (C. tendinei), transducer III (Mitral valve) and trans- ducer IV (Aortic root) using 2-D and measurements were made in four standard-transducer positions. The internal dimension of the left ventricle, the myocardial thickness of the interventricular septum and the left ventricle, and the posterior wall of the left ven- tricle, the ejection phase indices (%FS, %EF) of the left ventricle and the aortic root diameters (AOW) were measured and compar- isons were made among the groups. At the end of this study, no statistical diffence was observed in the parameters obtained from the English racing horses of different weights at the same transducer position. There was a statistically significant increase in the diastolic internal dimension of the left ventricle (LVID-d) in C group horses between transducer I and III positions, the left ventricle systolic internal dimension (LVID-s) in A group horses between transducer I and III and C group horses between transducer I and III positions. In addition, in group B, the measurements of transducer I and III, and transducer II and III were also statistically significant (p<0.l). It was also observed that the myocardial thickness of the posterior wall of the left ventricle systole in group C horses between transducer position I and II sta- tistically decreased. The left ventricle systolic posterior wall myocardial thickness in group C between transducer I and III positions was statistically significant (p<0.l).

Keywords: Horse, M-mode echocardiagraphy, left ventricle internal dimension, myocardial thickness, ejection phase indices, aortic root

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