Vera Lisse

Ghent University | UGhent · Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Biology of Large Animals

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In human medicine, vascular diseases are important and independently linked with mortality. Changes in arterial structure and function contribute to a poorer ‘vascular health’. The latter is mainly assessed by determination of arterial wall stiffness, regionally and locally. Using different techniques it has been demonstrated that age, race and gen...

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...

Internal jugular vein phlebectasia (IJVP) is a saccular or fusiform dilation of the internal jugular vein without tortuosity. In human patients, it causes an asymptomatic intermittent unilateral swelling in the lower part of the neck. Although the diagnosis can be suggested based on the clinical features, confirmation by imaging techniques is neces...

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: 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...

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...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221425.].

Rupture partielle de la paroi de l'aorte avec dissection et formation d'un pseudo-anévrisme chez un étalon Frison de 10 ans sans symptômes cliniques.

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...

Arterial rupture in horses has been observed during exercise, after phenylephrine administration or during parturition (uterine artery). In human pathophysiological research, the use of computer models for studying arterial hemodynamics and understanding normal and abnormal characteristics of arterial pressure and flow waveforms is very common. The...

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....

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.

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...

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...

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...

Background The use of commercial chromogenic agar plates for the rapid, easy and correct identification of equine endometritis‐causing bacteria has been proposed. Preliminary tests in our lab revealed undescribed limitations. Therefore we tested the ability of the Brilliance UTI agar, a commercially available chromogenic agar, to accurately identif...

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 Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a well‐established method for the treatment of symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF), but is only partly successful with a high rate of electrical reconnection. We introduce a novel technique in which PVI is acomplished by non‐invasive heating of a dedicated thermo‐response implant inserted in...

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...

Background: Recurrence of atrial fibrillation after an ablation procedure remains a major problem which emphasizes the need for improved pulmonary vein isolation techniques. Aims: The aim of this study was to describe an implantation procedure of a pulmonary vein-stent which may possibly serve as an ablation technique in the future and to examin...

Background: Ablation procedures, in the context of atrial fibrillation treatment, induce lesions which are difficult to visualize in an acute phase. This study sought to develop an immunohistochemical technique to evaluate and visualize microscopically the applied acute ablation lesions, which may enable an objective assessment of the lesions as th...

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...

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...

A twenty-four-year-old mare, which had been examined seven years earlier for mitral valve regurgitation and mild left sided cardiomegaly, was presented with tachycardia, profuse sweating and muscle fasciculations. Blood examination revealed an increased packed cell volume, metabolic acidosis, hypocalcemia, hyperglycemia and increased cardiac tropon...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically important arrhythmia in horses. Monitoring cardiac rhythm in successfully treated patients is important because recurrence may occur, but it might be challenging to the owner. Heart rate monitors are user-friendly, can be applied by owners and may offer basic heart rate variability (HRV) parame...

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...

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common pathological arrhythmia in horses. After successful treatment, recurrence is common. Heart rate monitors are easily applicable in horses and some devices offer basic heart rate variability (HRV) calculations. If HRV can be used to distinguish between AF and sinus rhythm (SR), this could becom...

Arrhythmias are common in horses and sometimes 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 hydrochloride is often used for long term treatment. Little is known about pharmacokinetics and electrophysiological effects of sotalo...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically important arrhythmia in horses. Diagnosis can be suspected during auscultation, but has to be confirmed with electrocardiography. After successful treatment, relapse is common. Heart rate monitors can be used in horses and may offer basic parameters for heart rate variability (HRV). If HRV para...

A 16-year-old Friesian gelding was admitted to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Ghent University) with complaints of exercise intolerance, pale mucous membranes, tachycardia and an irregular heart rate. General examination revealed decreased heart sounds and bronchovesicular sounds in the ventral lung fields, combined with a low hematocrit, whic...

A 16-year-old Friesian gelding was admitted to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Ghent University) with complaints of exercise intolerance, pale mucous membranes, tachycardia and an irregular heart rate. General examination revealed decreased heart sounds and bronchovesicular sounds in the ventral lung fields, combined with a low hematocrit, whic...