Microbubble contrast-enhanced echocardiography in diagnosing and staging inflammatory-induced pulmonary dysfunction in horses with colic

• Grant number: 20/14201-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2021
• End date: June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Aléscio Canola
• Grantee: Julia Moslavacz de Sá
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Colic is an important condition related to the horse whose progression can potentially trigger systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis and septic shock, further leading to multiple organ disfunction syndrome (MODS). Viscera and third space organs such as the lungs are most commonly affected. In sepsis, venous return decreases and, as consequence, portal hypertension develops. As result, intrapulmonary vascular dilatation may occur, further leading to the manifestation of hepatopulmonary syndrome (SHP). This scenario is well known in humans, but not yet observed in horses. It is well known that endotoxemia can potentially cause pulmonary hypertension in horses. In humans, the diagnosis of SHP can be obtained by microbubble contrast-enhanced echocardiography. Currently, this test is being adapted for horses in the expectation that it might be a useful non-invasive method for the diagnosis of lung injuries in horses. In this context, we sought to verify the potential clinical use of microbubble contrast-enhanced echocardiography in horses admitted at with colic syndrome of surgical nature, as well as to relate its results with the severity of the condition of the patient. To that purpose, between 10 and 15 horses will be included in the study. They will be submitted to the microbubble contrast-enhanced echocardiography on admission. Sixty milliliters of microbubble contrast will be injected into the patient's external jugular vein (right or left). Simultaneously, the contrast passage from the right to the left cardiac chambers will be verified by echocardiography. Hopefully, with the results we will be able to correlate the microbubble contrast-enhanced echocardiography results with the patients' SIRS or sepsis, patients' prognosis and survival rate.