Cardiovasc: Examination

Question 1

what three things does auscultation of the heart evaluate

Answer 1

-rate, rhythm, strength of heart sounds

Question 2

how many heart sounds should you hear

Answer 2

4

Question 3

what are the four heart sounds, which are loudest

Answer 3

S1-4
-S1 and S2 are loudest

Question 4

what is a dropped beat

Answer 4

-signal not transmitted from atria to ventricle
-thus the ventricle does not contract

Question 5

how is a dropped beat resolved, what % of horses are affected

Answer 5

-exercise
-44

Question 6

what is a murmur

Answer 6

-abnormal sound caused by blood flow through heart

Question 7

what are the grades of murmurs 1-6

Answer 7

1- soft only in specific locations
2- soft and easily heard over larger area
3-moderately loud over large area
4- loud murmur over wide area w a thrill
5- loud murmur over side area w obvious thrill
6- hear w/out stethoscope

Question 8

what is a physiologic murmur

Answer 8

-murmur not caused by pathology and disappears w exercise

Question 9

what is an echocardiography or ultrasound of the heart

Answer 9

-allows for eval of: size and wall thickness of heart chambers, valve structure and fxn, and blood vessel structure

Question 10

what is an ECG

Answer 10

-electrocardiography
-measures electrical activity of heart which corresponds to nerve impulses involved in heart cycle
-helps identify variation in heart rhythm

Question 11

is an ECG capable of determining heart size in a horse, why or why not

Answer 11

-no
-horse’s heart has diff electrical fxning than humans

Question 12

what does exercise and stress testing measure

Answer 12

-oxygen supplies in blood

Question 13

what is the ridgway test also called

Answer 13

-heart rate recovery index
-cardiac recovery index

Question 14

how does the ridgway test work

Answer 14

-take heart rate (15 sec x 4 = rate per min)
-jog horse 125 feet and bring him back
-take heart rate 60 seconds after initial heart rate was taken

Question 15

what is the most common rhythm disruption (or arrythmia) in a horse

Answer 15

–atrial fibrillation

Question 16

what is a fib

Answer 16

-atrium vibrates ineffectively which disrupts normal pattern of electrical signals that stimulate a regular heartbeat
-may occur secondary to some other heart disease but can also be a primary condition

Question 17

what happens to the ventricles in a fib

Answer 17

-they contract on their own in an irregular pattern

Question 18

how do you diagnose a fib

Answer 18

-auscultation reveals irregular heartbeat w no detectable pattern
-no 4th heart sound
-ECG
-ultrasound if there are other signs of heart disease (murmurs, exercise intolerance, increased heart rate)

Question 19

how do you treat a fib

Answer 19

-quinidine (anti arrhythmic) if no other signs of heart disease, but it has serious side effects (no appetite, depression, swollen nasal mucosa, ataxia, diarrhea, colic)
-secondary a fib: treat underlying condition (heart disease or heart failure should be treated first)

Question 20

how serious is a fib

Answer 20

-depends on how long and whether there is an underlying condition
-many horses can be healthy and athletes
-prognosis varies based on underlying conditions

Question 21

what are the complications of a fib

Answer 21

-vary based on underlying conditions