title: Effects of sedation with acepromazine on echocardiographic measurements in eight healthy thoroughbred horses.
abstract: Eight normal thoroughbred horses were examined by echocardiography before and 10 minutes after they had been sedated by the intravenous administration of 0.03 mg/kg acepromazine. There were significant (P<0.025) increases in the diameters of the pulmonary artery and the aorta, measured at end-systole, and in the thickness of the interventricular septum, measured at end-systole and end-diastole. In addition, there was a significant (P<0.001) decrease in the diameter of the left atrium measured at end-diastole. The remaining cardiac dimensions, all the indices of cardiac function, and the occurrence and severity of valvular regurgitation were not affected by sedation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Menzies-Gow
mesh_terms: D000075:Acepromazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000187:drug effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006736:Horses; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D000075:Acepromazine