EVALUATION OF SYSTOLIC HEART FUNCTION ON THE HORSE WITH PW-DOPPLERECHOCARDIOGRAPHY COMPARED WITH THERMODILUTION

In 14 horses without heart disease stroke volume determination were es tablished by pulsed wave dopplerechocardiography. Thermodilution and d opplerechocardiography were used simultaneously. The dopplerechocardio graphic volume determinations were carried out in left and right outfl owtracts. Echocardiographically Velocity Time Integral, Maximum Flow V elocity, Mean Flow Velocity and Acceleration Time were ascertained. To be able to compare heart volumes of horses with different body weight stroke volume was applied to 1 kg of body weight (= heart index). Hea rt Index determined with thermodilution did not show significant diffe rence from heart index determined with dopplerechocardiography. Stroke volume, which was measured in right outflowtract were closest to the values of thermodilution (mean difference: 124,3 +/- 55 mi). Standard variations of volume found in left and right outflowtract, determined from right body wall were lower than standard variations of thermudilu tion method. Heart volume determination with dopplerechocardiography p rovides evaluation of systolic heart function as well as thermodilutio n.