title: Aortic root disease in four horses.
abstract: Clinical findings in 4 horses with aortic root disease are described. Three of the horses had aneurysms of the right aortic sinus, and in 2 of the 3, the aneurysm ruptured, creating a fistula between the aorta and right ventricle. One of these horses had had a murmur since birth, and the aortic sinus aneurysm may have been a congenital anomaly. In a second horse, the aneurysm may have been an acquired condition that developed secondary to chronic aortic regurgitation. Another horse had a large subendocardial hematoma associated with dissection of blood from the aorta to the interventricular septum because of a tear in the aortic root near the right aortic sinus. Ventricular ectopy and signs of abdominal pain were the most common initial signs in these horses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square 19348-1692, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sleeper
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Durando
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Habecker
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Reef
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004452:Echocardiography; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000662:veterinary; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary