Determination of Cardiac Functions in Horses with Mitral Valve Insufficiency

Abstract

The organism performs tissue perfusion by developing compensation mechanisms in meeting oxygen demand appearing in various conditions. Cardiovascular system uses very different mechanisms for the oxygen to reach tissues. In athletic animals such as horses, the constitution and usage of these mechanisms are well developed. Physical examination, evaluation of heart rate per minute (HR), peripheral pulse quality, temperature of the extremities, mucous membrane colors, capillary refill time (CRT), indirect blood pressure, haemoglobuline saturation and blood gas and lactate meaurements are required in the determination of haemodynamic status. Cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI) are important associate examination methods, giving valuable information in these measurements and in the determination of haemodynamic status, and is measured with various methods in the last decade. Doppler echocardiography, a noninvasive technique, is used in the determination of CO. In this study, significance and degree of CO in the mitral regurgitation of horses were observed. Statistically significant results at P<0.005 level for the cardiac function values of horses with mitral regurgitation were achieved, while no signifigance was determined in heart rate per minute. This study demonstrated that CO is an important marker in mitral valve regurgitations resulting with performance loss in horses.