Cardiovascular parameters in emphysematous and control horses.

Abstract

Horses with clinical signs of chronic pulmonary emphysema were demonstrated to have heart rates, total peripheral vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance, and mean pulmonary artery blood pressure highly significantly greater than normal. They also had a highly significant decrease in central blood volume, stroke volume, stroke index, and left ventricular work. Cardiac output was significantly lower than in control (normal) horses. There were no significant differences in arterial or right ventricular blood pressures. The diseased group had variable values, probably depending on the degree and extent of pulmonary pathology present.