Equine Heart Murmurs Flashcards
Single cardiac murmur:
How is valvular insufficiency/regurgitation localized? What are clinical signs like?
auscultation
VARIABLE
- slight = no consequence
- consequences if arrhythmias or other heart changes
What valvular insufficiencies/regurgitations have the most impact on performance?
mitral > aortic > tricuspid > pulmonary
What is the diagnostic approach to valvular insufficiencies/regurgitations?
- auscultation
- echocardiography at rest and exercise to confirm, evaluate severity, and assess consequences
- ECG at rest and exercise
What 2 things are mitral valve regurgitations likely to do?
- have an impact on performance
- evolve and cause heart failure
What is the etiology of mitral valve regurgitation? What are the 2 consequences?
degenerative process leads to dilation of the mitral ring, spontaneous chordal rupture, and eventual endocarditis
- MILD: tolerated with minimal compromise
- SEVERE: exercise intolerance, heart failure
What is most commonly heard on auscultation in patients with mitral valve regurgitation?
holo/pan systolic murmur, grade 2-5
What clinical signs are associated with mitral valve regurgitation?
- none if mild
- exercise intolerance
- increased respiratory rate and effort at rest
- prolonged recovery after exercise
- coughing
What short-term, acute, and long-term signs are associated with mitral valve regurgitation?
SHORT-TERM = left heart failure
ACUTE = fulminant pulmonary edema, collapse
LONG-TERM = evolves to right heart failure
How is mitral valve regurgitation diagnosed?
echocardiography and Doppler show blood leaking into LA (flail leaflet)
- valve anatomy + size of atria, ventricles, and vessels
- severity of regurgitation
- LV systolic function
- degeneration, prolapse, endocarditis
What 4 things does the severity of valvular regurgitation depend on?
- age
- clinical signs
- rapidity of onset
- performance level
When is prognosis good in patients with valvular regurgitation?
- no clinical signs or exercise intolerance
- mild insufficiency
- no functional or morphologic repercussion
What 4 things cause prognosis to be guarded in patients with mitral valve regurgitation?
- clinical signs, moderate to severe insufficiency
- ruptured chordae tendinae, endocarditis
- globular apex, LA dilation = risk of AF
- pulmonary hypertension = risk of pulmonary edema
In what horses is aortic valve regurgitation most common? What is felt on pulse palpation?
older (>10 y/o) - severity not proportional to intensity
bounding, water hammer pulse indicative of ventricular enlargement (decreases prognosis)
What is the etiology of aortic valve regurgitation? What does consequences depend on?
degenerative process
severity and presence of arrhythmias (do an ECG!)
What is heard on auscultation in patients with aortic valve regurgitation?
holo diastolic, muscial, decresendo murmur
(between S2 and S1)
How is aortic valve regurgitation diagnosed?
echocardiography and Doppler show a thickened aortic valve (endocarditis) and backward flow back into the LV
What is the most common finding on ECG in patients with aortic valve regurgitation?
VPC arrhythmia
- no P wave!