8. Examine the cardiovascular system of the horse and describe the findings

Question 1

Main steps in physical examination:

Answer 1

1. Inspection
2. Palpation
3. Auscultation
4. Percussion

Question 2

Inspection:

Answer 2

Heart and vessels: check for trauma, deformity

Question 3

Palpation:

Answer 3

Heart and vessels.

Check location and intensity of the heartbeat, heart rate, pain, trauma, deformity

Question 4

Percussion:

Answer 4

Heart.

Detection of pain in the cardiac area

Question 5

Secondary diagnostic methods of the heart:

Answer 5

1. ECG
2. Telemetric
3. Echocardiograhpy
4. Pericardiocentesis
5. Lab tests

Question 6

ECG:

Answer 6

resting ECG, base-apex lead most commonly used, Einthoven lead can also be used

Question 7

Telemetric:

Answer 7

at rest -> picture or exercising ECG, special leads, during natural work, on treadmill

Question 8

Echocardiography:

Answer 8

ultrasound examination with Doppler

Question 9

Lab tests:

Answer 9

AST, CK, LDH, cardia troponin I

Question 10

Location of heart:

Answer 10

2nd - 6th intercostal space

Question 11

Where to locate heartbeat on each side:

Answer 11

LefT: 3rd-5th ICS
Right: 3rd-4th ICS

Question 12

What is diastole?

Answer 12

heart muscle relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood

Question 13

What is systole?

Answer 13

heart muscle contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries

Question 14

What are the points for equine cardiac auscultation and where can they be heard?

Answer 14

1. Mitral - left 5th ICS halfway between shoulder and sternum
2. Aortic - left 4th ICS just below point of shoulder
3. Pulmonic - left 3rd ICS just below point of shoulder
4. Tricuspid - right 3rd - 4th

Question 15

How many heart sounds are audible in horses?

Answer 15

All 4.
S1, S2, S3 and S4

Question 16

What is S1 sound?

Answer 16

early ventricular contraction, AV closure, ejection w/semilunar opening. Beginnig of systole

Question 17

What is the S2 sound?

Answer 17

closing of semilunar valves and back flow of blood.
End of systole

Question 18

What is the S3 sound?

Answer 18

vibration of ventricular wall during passive filling of ventricle and is best heard over the apex.

Termination of rapid ventricular filling

Question 19

What is the S4 sound?

Answer 19

The atrial sound and is detected in most horses.

Question 20

Physiological murmurs;

Answer 20

occur in horses due to the size of the heart and volume of blood flow. They dont alter heart function

Grade: 1-3/6

Question 21

Pathological murmurs:

Answer 21

1. Systolic murmurs
2. Diastolic murmurs

Question 22

Systolic murmurs:

Answer 22

1. caused by blood flow in aorta and pulmonary artery in early systole
2. Left side of thorax
3. Intensity may change with exercise
4. PMI over aortic + pulmonary valves

Question 23

Diastolic murmurs:

Answer 23

1. Caused by ventricular filling
2. Common in young horses and TB
3. Left side of thorax
4. PMI over mitral area

Question 24

Grade 1/6

Answer 24

quiet murmur, heard only after careful auscultation

Question 25

Grade 2/6

Answer 25

quiet murmur, heard immediately once the stethoscope is placed over its PMI

Question 26

Grade 3/6

Answer 26

louder than grade 2, audible over a large area

Question 27

grade 4/6

Answer 27

loud, very good audibility, without fremitus

Question 28

Grade 5/6

Answer 28

louder than grade 4, with fremitus, audible with loose contact of the thoracic wall

Question 29

Grade 6/6

Answer 29

loudest, audible when the stethoscope is held apart from the thoracic wall