Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 16, 2025
Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
Real-time three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic characterisation of an atrial septal defect in a horse
Adam Redpath1, Celia M Marr2, Caroline Bullard3
1School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, UK.
Insights
This study reports a rare atrial septal defect (ASD) in a horse, diagnosed using echocardiography. Advanced 3D imaging helped fully characterize the defect, offering insights into equine congenital heart anomalies.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Equine Medicine
- Congenital Heart Defects
Background:
- Atrial septal defects (ASDs) are well-documented in humans and dogs, with established interventions.
- Information on congenital heart anomalies, specifically ASDs, in horses is scarce.
- True ASDs are considered rare in horses, and their clinical significance remains poorly understood.
Abstract:
Atrial septal defects have been well reported in humans and dogs and the principles of intervention have been well established. In contrast, there is very little information published about these congenital anomalies in horses. True ASDs are regarded as rare and little is known about the clinical significance of these defects in horses. An 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with a history of poor performance was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect, measuring approximately 2 cm in diameter, on 2D transthoracic echocardiography. Real-time three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography was used to map the structure of the defect and was useful in fully characterising the ASD in this case.
