Background: Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) may improve the assessment of myocardial function in neonatal foals. Objectives: To document the feasibility of left ventricular pulsed wave (PW) TDI, inter- and intra-observer variability and wave pattern over the first 5 days of life. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 25 healthy Standardbred foals within the first 24 h after birth (T1), between 60–84 h (T2), and 108–132 h (T3) after birth using right parasternal short-axis (R-LV SAX) and subcostal long-axis views at the mitral annulus, both at the interventricular septum (SC-MV IVS) and free wall (SC-MV FW). Systolic (S1, Sm) and diastolic (E1, Em, Am) peak velocities were measured at each site. Intra- and inter-observer variability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Longitudinal changes were analysed using Friedman's test with Sidak-adjusted pairwise comparisons. Em and Am were compared using the paired Wilcoxon test. Results: Pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging was feasible in all foals. S1 and E1 were frequently indistinguishable. ICCs showed excellent agreement for most variables; measurement variability was low. Sm (R-LV SAX: T1 = 9.3 [8.2–11.0] cm/s; T3 = 12 [11.1–12.7] cm/s; p < 0.01), Em (R-LV SAX: T1 = 15.8 [14.1–20.1] cm/s; T3 = 22.1 [20.2–25.5] cm/s; p = 0.003; SC-MV FW: T1 = 16.9 [15.2–20.6] cm/s; T3 = 21.0 [18.1–22.3] cm/s; p = 0.019) and R-LV SAX Em/Am (T1 = 1.5 [1.3–1.9] cm/s; T3 = 1.9 [1.7–2.6] cm/s; p = 0.003) increased over time. Em was higher than Am in the R-LV SAX view at all time points. Main Limitation: Effective sample size varied across analyses. Conclusions: Pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging was feasible. Sm and Em increased over time, while Am remained stable, indicating early ventricular adaptation to extra-uterine life. PW TDI may be a useful tool in myocardial function monitoring of neonatal foals.
D'El Rey Dantas, F.T., Hallowell, G., Castagnetti, C., Romito, G., Menchetti, L., Mannini, A., et al. (2026). Pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging of the left ventricle in foals: Feasibility, inter- and intra-observer variability and wave pattern over the first days of life. EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, 0, 1-10 [10.1002/evj.70304].
Pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging of the left ventricle in foals: Feasibility, inter- and intra-observer variability and wave pattern over the first days of life
D'el Rey Dantas F. T.;Castagnetti C.;Romito G.;Mannini A.;Lanci A.;Mariella J.;Freccero F.
2026
Abstract
Background: Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) may improve the assessment of myocardial function in neonatal foals. Objectives: To document the feasibility of left ventricular pulsed wave (PW) TDI, inter- and intra-observer variability and wave pattern over the first 5 days of life. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 25 healthy Standardbred foals within the first 24 h after birth (T1), between 60–84 h (T2), and 108–132 h (T3) after birth using right parasternal short-axis (R-LV SAX) and subcostal long-axis views at the mitral annulus, both at the interventricular septum (SC-MV IVS) and free wall (SC-MV FW). Systolic (S1, Sm) and diastolic (E1, Em, Am) peak velocities were measured at each site. Intra- and inter-observer variability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Longitudinal changes were analysed using Friedman's test with Sidak-adjusted pairwise comparisons. Em and Am were compared using the paired Wilcoxon test. Results: Pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging was feasible in all foals. S1 and E1 were frequently indistinguishable. ICCs showed excellent agreement for most variables; measurement variability was low. Sm (R-LV SAX: T1 = 9.3 [8.2–11.0] cm/s; T3 = 12 [11.1–12.7] cm/s; p < 0.01), Em (R-LV SAX: T1 = 15.8 [14.1–20.1] cm/s; T3 = 22.1 [20.2–25.5] cm/s; p = 0.003; SC-MV FW: T1 = 16.9 [15.2–20.6] cm/s; T3 = 21.0 [18.1–22.3] cm/s; p = 0.019) and R-LV SAX Em/Am (T1 = 1.5 [1.3–1.9] cm/s; T3 = 1.9 [1.7–2.6] cm/s; p = 0.003) increased over time. Em was higher than Am in the R-LV SAX view at all time points. Main Limitation: Effective sample size varied across analyses. Conclusions: Pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging was feasible. Sm and Em increased over time, while Am remained stable, indicating early ventricular adaptation to extra-uterine life. PW TDI may be a useful tool in myocardial function monitoring of neonatal foals.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
