title: Echocardiographic evidence of an aortico-pulmonary septal defect in a 4-day-old thoroughbred foal.
abstract: We describe the echocardiographic findings in a 4-day-old thoroughbred foal with an aortico-pulmonary septal defect. The foal had labored breathing, cyanotic mucous membranes and a continuous grade 5/6 heart murmur with point of maximal intensity over the base of the heart on the right side. Echocardiographically, there was a large communication between the aorta and the pulmonary artery just dorsal to the base of the heart. The cardiac anomaly seen during the echocardiographic exam was confirmed at necropsy where a large communication between the two great vessels was observed. These findings correlate with previous studies in humans, dogs, and cats. The possible failure in the embryologic development that led to this unusual cardiac anomaly is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. avaldes@vetmed.lsu.edu
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valdes-Martinez
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Eades
authors.forename: Keith N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: E Don
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000002:abnormalities*; D001028:Aortopulmonary Septal Defect / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014463:Ultrasonography