[A comparison of cardiac stroke volume determination using the thermodilution method and PW-Doppler echocardiography for the evaluation of systolic heart function in the horse].

In 14 horses without heart disease stroke volume determination were established by pulsed wave doppler echocardiography. Thermodilution and doppler echocardiography were used simultaneously. The doppler echocardiographic volume determinations were carried out in left and right outflow tracts. Echocardiographically Velocity Time Integral, Maximum Flow Velocity, Mean Flow Velocity and Acceleration Time were ascertained. To be able to compare heart volumes of horses with different body weight stroke volume was applied to 1 kg of body weight (= heart index). Heart Index determined with thermodilution did not show significant difference from heart index determined with doppler echocardiography. Stroke volume, which was measured in right outflow tract were closest to the values of thermodilution (mean difference: 124.3 +/- 55 ml). Standard variations of volume found in left and right outflow tract, determined from right body wall were lower than standard variations of thermodilution method. Heart volume determination with doppler echocardiography provides evaluation of systolic heart function as well as thermodilution.