Key result
Transvenous electrical cardioversion in horses with atrial fibrillation is linked to decreased EMATc and LVSTc.
Why the study?
Left atrial mechanical dysfunction is common in horses after AF treatment, prompting evaluation of an acoustic cardiography monitor to quantify cardiac mechanical and hemodynamic function before and after treatment.
Does acoustic cardiography accurately assess cardiac mechanical and hemodynamic function in horses with atrial fibrillation before and after cardioversion?
Observational (n=28)
Does acoustic cardiography accurately assess cardiac mechanical and hemodynamic function in horses with atrial fibrillation before and after cardioversion?
Acoustic cardiography can accurately assess ventricular systolic function changes in horses following cardioversion for atrial fibrillation, though S4 quantification lacks clinical value for assessing left atrial function.
Acoustic cardiography detects post-cardioversion systolic changes in equine AF; leaves open clinical adoption pending prospective validation.
Left atrial mechanical dysfunction is common in horses following the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to evaluate the use of an acoustic cardiography monitor (Audicor®) in quantifying cardiac mechanical and hemodynamic function in horses with AF before and after treatment and to correlate these findings with echocardiographic measures. Twenty-eight horses with AF and successful transvenous electrical cardioversion were included. Audicor® recordings with concomitant echocardiographic examinations were performed one day before, one day after, and two to seven days after cardioversion. Key variables measured by Audicor® included electromechanical activating time (EMAT), heart rate-corrected EMATc, left ventricular systolic time (LVST), heart rate-corrected LVSTc, systolic dysfunction index (SDI), and intensity and persistence of the third and fourth heart sound (S3, S4). A repeated-measures ANOVA with Tukey’s test was used to compare these variables over time, and linear regression and Bland–Altman analyses were applied to assess associations with echocardiographic findings. Following conversion to sinus rhythm, there was a significant decrease in EMATc and LVSTc (p < 0.0001) and a significant increase in LVST (p = 0.0001), indicating improved ventricular systolic function, with strong agreement between Audicor® snapshot and echocardiographic measures. However, S4 quantification did not show clinical value for assessing left atrial function after conversion.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Schneider et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Atrial fibrillation (n=28). Transvenous electrical cardioversion vs. Baseline (before cardioversion) was evaluated on Cardiac mechanical and hemodynamic function variables (EMATc, LVSTc, LVST) (p=<0.0001). Transvenous electrical cardioversion in horses with atrial fibrillation significantly decreased EMATc and LVSTc (p<0.0001) and increased LVST (p=0.0001) as measured by acoustic cardiography.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: