TWO‐DIMENSIONAL, REAL‐TIME ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN THE HORSE

Abstract

To improve spatial information and appreciation of cardiac anatomy, two‐dimensional real‐time echocardiography was performed in 10 standing normal Standardbred horses, using a 3.5–MHz real‐time sector scanner. A standardized examination technique was developed with long‐ and short‐axis views of the heart from each side of the thorax at eight intercostal transducer positions. From these views, cardiac anatomy was described, image quality of 10 cardiac structures estimated, and optimal transducer positions for imaging the different cardiac structures proposed. On matched t‐tests, no significant improvements (p > 0.05) in image quality was recorded after sedation with detomidine (0.01 mg/kg, IV), and no correlation was found on linear regression between body weight and image quality (p > 0.05).