Review Article: Heart murmurs in horses: determining their significance with echocardiography

摘要: Physiological flow murmurs occur frequently in horses and may be difficult to distinguish from associated with underlying cardiac disease. The significance of heart auscultated is often determine if the horse not exhibiting any clinical signs or signs, such as poor performance, are nonspecific. A complete echocardiographic examination (M-mode, 2-dimensional (2-D) Doppler) provides an objective assessment severity horse's Valvular regurgitation ventricular septal defects (VSDs) impair result premature demise have no apparent effect on life expectancy performance capabilities. findings that used formulate a prognosis for longevity valvular include abnormalities detected valve leaflets, degree chamber enlargement, resultant volume overload, size regurgitant jet, relative relationship jet size. VSDs number, location defect(s), left maximal velocity direction shunt through defect presence concurrent valvulus regurgitation. Knowledge natural progression common types cardiovascular disease horses, coupled findings, history owner's trainer's expectations can help veterinarian form accurate murmurs.