Annelies Decloedt

Ghent University | UGhent · Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Rationale and objectives: To investigate the renal pressure-flow relationship and its relation to renin release, because the renal perfusion pressure below which renal flow starts to decline and renin secretion is upregulated is unclear. Materials and methods: A porcine model of graded unilateral renal artery stenosis was created. The severity o...

We describe the diagnosis and treatment of an atrioventricular accessory pathway (AP) in a horse using 3-dimensional electro-anatomical mapping (3D EAM) and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). During routine evaluation of the horse, intermittent ventricular pre-excitation was identified on the ECG, characterized by a short PQ interval and abno...

Background: Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) seems to be gaining acceptance by pet owners. Client-veterinarian communication about CAVM is important to explore client perceptions and facilitate open exchange of ideas between owners and veterinarians. Methods: This study includes an online, cross-sectional survey of dog ow...

The ductus arteriosus (DA) and foramen ovale (FO), including the septum primum (SP) and septum secundum (SS), are important structures in fetal circulation and are unexplored in neonatal equids. The objective of this study is to describe echocardiographic characteristics in a hospital-based population of neonatal foals. On days 2, 5 and 10 after pa...

Background: Atrial tachycardia (AT) can be treated by medical or electrical cardioversion but the recurrence rate is high. Three-dimensional electro-anatomical mapping, recently described in horses, might be used to map AT to identify a focal source or reentry mechanism and to guide treatment by radiofrequency ablation. Objectives: To describe t...

Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are used to assess students’ skills on a variety of tasks using live animals, models, cadaver tissue, and simulated clients. OSCEs can be used to provide formative feedback, or they can be summative, impacting progression decisions. OSCEs can also drive student motivation to engage with clinical sk...

This case report describes the 2‐dimensional transthoracic (2D‐TTE), 3‐dimensional transthoracic (3D‐TTE) and intracardiac echocardiographic (ICE) characterization of the fossa ovalis region in 2 horses. The first case was presented for poor performance and showed an anechoic zone in the interatrial septum on 2D‐TTE. Based on 3D‐TTE a deepened foss...

Use of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine in horses Communication about complementary and alternative veterinary medicine

Background: Transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) is 1 of the main treatment options for atrial fibrillation (AF) in horses. Large-scale studies on factors affecting success and prognosis have primarily been performed in Standardbred populations. Hypothesis/objectives: To determine factors affecting cardioversion success, cardioversion dif...

Atrial arrhythmias in horses are common, and novel catheter‐based treatment techniques require the horse to be under general anaesthesia. A 3‐year‐old gelding, weighing 517 kilograms, presented for cardiac three‐dimensional electro‐anatomical mapping and radiofrequency ablation for treatment of sustained atrial tachycardia. The current case report...

In human cardiology, the anatomical origin of atrial premature depolarizations (APDs) is derived from P wave characteristics on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and from vectorcardiography (VCG). The objective of this study is to differentiate between anatomical locations of APDs and to differentiate APDs from sinus rhythm (SR) based upon VCG char...

In human cardiology, the anatomical origin of ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs) is determined by the characteristics of a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Former studies in horses had contradictory results regarding the diagnostic value of the 12-lead ECG and vectorcardiography (VCG), which results were attributed to the different cardia...

Background: The recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) in horses after cardioversion to sinus rhythm (SR) is relatively high. Atrial fibrillatory rate (AFR) derived from surface ECG is considered a biomarker for electrical remodelling and could potentially be used for the prediction of successful AF cardioversion and AF recurrence. Objective...

Rate‐adaptive single chamber pacemakers with accelerometer, closed loop stimulation (CLS), and remote monitoring functionality (Eluna 8 SR‐T, Biotronik, SE & Co, Germany) were implanted in 3 miniature donkeys with third‐degree atrioventricular block and syncope. After recovery, different pacemaker programming modes were tested at rest, during stres...

Introduction: Ultrasonographic data regarding cardiac adaptations of the ductus arteriosus (DA) and interatrial septum primum (SP) and secundum (SS) characteristics during the first days of life in foals are scarce. Material and methods: Cardiac auscultation, ultrasonographic dimensions including DA, SP and SS, and continuous wave (CW) Doppler fin...

Background: Venous stenosis, a possible cause of jugular dilatation and congestion, is well known in human medicine but has poorly been described in horses. Objective: To report unilateral jugular vein stenosis as a cause of jugular vein dilatation in horses and describe treatment by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Study design: Case re...

Background: Transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) is one of the main treatment options for atrial fibrillation (AF) in horses. Large-scale studies on factors affecting success and prognosis have primarily been performed in Standardbred populations. Objectives: To determine the factors affecting success, difficulty of TVEC and recurrence in a...

Background: Atrial tachycardia (AT) in horses is currently treated by medical or electrical cardioversion, but the recurrence rate is high. The development of 3D electro-anatomical mapping allows a more accurate diagnosis and possible treatment by ablation, which may provide a permanent solution. Objectives: To describe the 3D electro-anatomical fi...

Flipped classroom is an educational technique in which content is delivered online for students to study at their own pace in preparation for in-class learning. Benefits include increased flexibility, enhanced student engagement and satisfaction, and more effective use of time spent during face-to-face teaching. However, the development and impleme...

Arterial rupture is a well-recognized cause of sudden death in horses, which mainly affects older horses. The arterial wall is known to stiffen with age, although the underlying age-related histological and biomechanical changes remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aging by histological analysis of the arterial...

Advanced second or third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block can be treated by pacemaker implantation. Pacemaker rate-adaptability has typically been obtained by a built-in accelerometer. Closed-loop (CLS) stimulation is a new rate adaptive technology which is based on myocardial impedance changes due to altered sympathetic tone, and achieves a rate...

Assessing the clinical relevance of cardiac arrhythmias can be a daunting challenge for the veterinarian, as the management and potential risks vary largely depending on the diagnosis. This 2021 Special Issue of The Veterinary Journal aims to shed some light on the subject by a combination of comprehensive reviews and cutting-edge research studies,...

Background: Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) is becoming increasingly popular in horses. Methods: Online, cross-sectional survey in 1532 horse owners. Attitude towards CAVM, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intention for future CAVM use were measured based on the theory of planned behaviour. Structural...

Background Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are the most common congenital cardiac defect in horses. Objectives To identify prevalence, age, breed, and sex distribution of VSD and to describe associated clinical and ultrasonographic findings. Animals Hospital‐based population of 21 136 horses presented to the equine internal medicine department....

Objectives To compare the atrial fibrillatory rate (AFR) derived from a local right atrial intracardiac recording (RA-FR) and from a single-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) during atrial fibrillation (AF) and to evaluate the correlation with transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) threshold (in Joules), number of shocks and cardioversion su...

Het aanleren van klinische vaardigheden is een essentieel onderdeel van de opleiding diergeneeskunde. In een skillslab kunnen deze vaardigheden aangeleerd worden zonder gebruik van proefdieren. Aan de Universiteit Gent wordt momenteel een augmented reality app ontwikkeld voor het aanleren van het nemen van röntgenfoto’s (RX) bij het paard.

Background: Arrhythmias are common in horses, but catheter-based minimally-invasive electrophysiological studies and therapeutic interventions have been poorly explored in equine medicine, partly due to the lack of detailed anatomical knowledge of the equine heart. Objectives: To describe the dimensions and anatomical features of some electrophy...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is suspected by an irregularly irregular rhythm during auscultation at rest and should be confirmed by electrocardiography. Heart rate monitoring is potentially interesting for AF detection by horse owners, based on the disproportionally high heart rate during exercise or increased heart rate variability. Echocardiography a...

Arterial rupture is a well-recognized cause of sudden death in horses which mostly affects old horses. The underlying age-related vascular changes are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyse vessel wall architecture at seven arterial locations and to investigate the effect of aging on its histological composition. Samples of cranial...

Introduction : Le Frison est prédisposé à une rupture de l’arche aortique avec formation d’une fistule aortopulmonaire qui résulte en hypertension pulmonaire et dilatation du cœur droit. Récemment il a été démontré que les Frisons ont une pression artérielle et une raideur de la paroi artérielle plus élevées que les chevaux de sport1. Peu de littér...

Background Echocardiographic reference intervals for Friesian horses are poorly described. Objectives To obtain reference intervals for echocardiographic measurements in Friesians and compare these with Warmbloods. Animals One hundred healthy adult Friesians and 100 healthy adult Warmblood horses. Methods Cross‐sectional study. Two‐dimensional a...

This case report describes the clinical presentation, the necropsy findings, and genetic results of a 13-year-old Warmblood mare presented with colic and a bilaterally loud, holosystolic murmur. Echocardiographic examination revealed the presence of a thoracic aortic aneurysm, an aortic pseudoaneurysm, a periaortic hematoma (circumferential cuffing...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically relevant arrhythmia in horses, with a reported prevalence up to 2.5%. The pathophysiology has mainly been investigated in experimental animal models and human medicine, with limited studies in horses. Atrial fibrillation results from the interplay between electrical triggers and a susceptible s...

Minimally-invasive catheter-based interventional cardiology is a mainstay for the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias in human medicine. Very accurate imaging using fluoroscopy, CT and MRI is essential during interventional cardiology procedures. Because these imaging techniques are either not possible or provide too little anatomical detail in...

Arrhythmias are very common in horses, but the origin and clinical significance is often unknown. The use of the electrocardiogram (ECG) in horses is still limited to rhythm and rate diagnosis whereas identification of the underlying mechanisms of arrhythmias often requires invasive electrophysiological studies that have not fully been developed in...

Slecht nieuws kan gedefinieerd worden als elke boodschap met een nadelige invloed op het toekomstbeeld van de klant. Slechtnieuwsgesprekken komen frequent voor in de diergeneeskunde en de dierenarts-klantrelatie wordt in belangrijke mate bepaald door de manier waarop het slechte nieuws gecommuniceerd wordt. In de humane geneeskunde en meer recent o...

Understanding the depolarisation pattern of the equine heart under normal physiologic conditions, and its relationship to the surface electrocardiogram (ECG), is of uppermost importance before any further research can be done about the pathophysiology of complex arrhythmias. In the present study, a 3D electro-anatomical mapping system was used to e...

Background: Aortic regurgitation (AR) may lead to left ventricular (LV) dilatation, cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. Close follow-up of horses with AR is therefore paramount to detect onset of cardiac decompensation. The aim of this study was to examine whether two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) can be used to detect altered myocardial...

Background: Arterial rupture mainly affects older horses. The reason why older horses are more prone to arterial rupture and which underlying vascular changes predispose older horses to aortic rupture is still unclear. Objectives: To investigate the effect of ageing on the equine arterial wall and blood pressure. Study design: Cohort study. M...

Clinical skills laboratory (CSL) training was recently introduced in the renewed veterinary curriculum at Ghent University, using models and simulators for teaching practical skills. However, time in the CSL is restricted due to the large number of students combined with limited availability of personnel. Therefore, a flipped classroom (FC) model w...

Background: Aortic rupture is more common in Friesians compared to Warmbloods, which might be related to differences in arterial wall composition and, as such, arterial wall stiffness (AWS). Currently, nothing is known about differences in AWS between these breeds. Objectives: Comparison of AWS parameters and noninvasive blood pressure between F...

Background: Ultra-high-density cardiac mapping allows very accurate characterisation of atrial and ventricular electrophysiology and activation timing. Objective: To describe the technique and evaluate the feasibility of magnetic electro-anatomical mapping of the equine heart. Study design: In vivo experimental method development. Methods: A...

In humans, electrical and contractile reverse remodelling following restoration of sinus rhythm (SR) after a prolonged period of spontaneous atrial fibrillation (AF), requires several weeks. There is little known about this phenomenon in horses. In the present study, six healthy horses were instrumented with a neurostimulator and a pacemaker to mai...

Background: The number of atrial premature depolarisations (APDs) is a known risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in humans. Objectives: To evaluate if the number of APDs over a 24-h period 5 days post cardioversion predicts AF recurrence within 1 year in horses, taking the multifactorial nature of AF into account. Study design:...

Background: In human medicine, local and regional arterial wall stiffness (AWS) parameters are routinely used to assess the vascular health. In horses, information regarding reproducibility of ultrasonographically derived AWS parameters is lacking. Objectives: To evaluate the inter-day and inter-observer and intra-observer measurement variabilit...

The available literature on the activities of the small animal veterinarian in Flanders is limited. In this research, information was collected on the working conditions, the most frequently performed clinical activities and the importance of the different disciplines in veterinary practice. Log files recorded by fifth-year veterinary students duri...

Aortopulmonary fistulation (APF) is extremely rare in the general horse population but relatively common in Friesian horses. Typically, a transverse tear in the aorta occurs near the remnant of the ligamentum arteriosum, with formation of a fistula towards the pulmonary artery. The fistulation often is a relatively long and irregular shaped tract....

This report describes a rare case of an aorto-cardiac fistula in a six-year-old French Warmblood mare presented with atrial fibrillation, decreased performance, ventral oedema, bounding arterial pulsation and pathological jugular venous pulse. A 2.7 cm diameter fistula connected the right aortic sinus of Valsalva to the right atrium. Atrial fibrill...

Introduction In human cardiology, the anatomical origin of atrial premature depolarizations (APDs) is derived from P wave characteristics on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). The aim of our study was to assess whether an equine 12-lead ECG might allow to distinguish sinus rhythm (SR) from an APD and identify the site of origin of APDs.

Pericardial, myocardial, and great vessel diseases are relatively rare in horses. The clinical signs are often nonspecific and vague, or related to the underlying cause. Physical examination usually reveals tachycardia, fever, venous distension or jugular pulsation, a weak or bounding arterial pulse, ventral edema, and abnormal cardiac auscultation...

Background Atrial tachycardia including focal atrial tachycardia and macroreentrant atrial tachycardia (atrial flutter), are occasionally found in horses. Diagnosis, treatment and follow up of these arrhythmias has been inadequately described. Objectives To describe the findings on surface electrocardiography (ECG), intra‐atrial electrogram record...

La fibrillation atriale est l’arythmie cardiaque qui affecte le plus souvent les performances des chevaux. En l’absence de maladie cardiaque sous-jacente, le traitement est conseillé pour les chevaux destinés au sport et à la course. Le traitement médicamenteux à base de sulfate de quinidine est souvent utilisé, mais il comporte des risques d’effet...

In human cardiology, the anatomical origin of ventricular premature depolarisations (VPDs) is determined by the characteristics of a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). The aim of our study was to assess whether specific criteria from an equine 12-lead ECG can be identified that allow to identify the site of ventricular ectopy. Under general anaesthes...

Transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) has a 95% success rate for cardioversion of atrial tachyarrhythmia but recurrence rate is about 35%. A 5-year-old showjumper stallion with regular atrial tachyarrhythmia was treated successfully with TVEC twice but showed early recurrence each time. An electrophysiological study suggested a right sided at...

While mature coastal bermudagrass hay is strongly associated with ileal impaction in the Southeastern United States, stabling on flax bedding has anecdotally been associated with this condition in Europe. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the association between ileal impaction and the use of flax shives compared to straw as be...

Background Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, and especially RMSSD (root mean squared successive differences in RR interval), could distinguish atrial fibrillation (AF) from sinus rhythm(SR) in horses, as was demonstrated in a previous study. If heart rate monitors (HRM) automatically calculating RMSSD could also distinguish AF from SR, they...

A 15-year-old Warmblood mare, at 8 months of gestation, was presented to the Ghent University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for evaluation of suspected stage one labor. Transrectal ultrasonography revealed no clear signs of placentitis or stage one labor. The combined thickness of uterus and placenta was 11 mm and the cervix was closed. Twin pregn...

Background: In human and veterinary medicine, monophasic action potential (MAP) analysis and determination of local refractory periods by contact electrode technique gives valuable information about local cardiac electrophysiological properties. It is used to investigate dysrhythmias and the impact of drugs on the myocardium. Precise measurement o...

Background: Based on its pharmacokinetic profile and electrophysiological effects in healthy horses, sotalol potentially could be used as a long-term PO antiarrhythmic drug in horses. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of sotalol on heart rate (HR), QT interval, atrial fibrillatory rate, and success of cardioversion in horses with naturally occu...

Background: Aortic regurgitation (AR) can have an important clinical impact and in some cases leads to left ventricular (LV) failure. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is an echocardiographic technique that has been used in horses to detect LV dysfunction. Objectives: To examine whether TDI detects changes in radial myocardial wall motion in horses w...

Arrhythmias, both physiological and pathological, are fairly common in horses. Atrial ectopic beats are often harmless, but predispose to the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition with an important impact on athletic performance that may occasionally lead to collapse or rarely even sudden death during strenuous exercise. Horses with...

Background: Arrhythmias in horses may require long-term anti-arrhythmic therapy. Unfortunately, oral anti-arrhythmic drugs for use in horses are currently scarce. In human patients and small animals, sotalol, a β-blocker with class III anti-arrhythmic properties, is often used for long-term treatment. Objectives: To determine the pharmacokinetic...

An 8-day-old Arabo-Friesian filly was presented with signs of severe dyspnoea, tachypnoea, coughing and cyanotic mucous membranes. On auscultation, a bilateral grade V/VI continuous heart murmur and heart rate of 155 beats/min (sinus tachycardia) were detected. Lung ultrasonography revealed pronounced comet tail artefacts indicating lung oedema. Ec...

The disproportionate rise of pulmonary artery pressure compared to systemic blood pressure during exercise can lead to detrimental right ventricular remodelling in endurance athletes. Horses may act as an extreme model of these athletic cardiovascular adaptations, as they show a three fold increase in pulmonary pressures during exercise. Right vent...

Arrhythmias are very common in horses. Nevertheless, invasive electrophysiological techniques have not fully been explored. The aim of this study was to establish whether an automatic, high resolution mapping system (Rhythmia, Boston Scientific) would be applicable to identify 3D cardiac geometry and electrical activation patterns from the right an...