Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine veterinarians have successfully conducted their first-ever procedure to correct atrial fibrillation in an equine patient. Auburn's College of Veterinary Medicine is one of only a handful of veterinary schools nationwide able to perform the procedure.
The procedure on Moissanite, a 6-year-old thoroughbred jumping horse, involved a team of large and small animal faculty veterinarians and technicians from cardiology, equine medicine, anesthesia and radiology services in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib, occurs in humans and large animals, said assistant professor of cardiology in the department of clinical sciences Seung-Woo Jung, who sees both large and small animal cases.
“A true veterinary team effort was put together to conduct this procedure," Jung said. "It was the first time we have conducted a TVEC (transvenous electrical cardioversion) procedure on a horse, [and] it provided a wonderful educational opportunity for our staff and veterinary students."
AFib is an arrhythmia with an irregular and often rapid heart rate that increases the risk of stroke, heart failure
“When AFib is discovered, it is very important to return the arrhythmia to a normal sinus rhythm, but not every veterinary hospital will attempt this with a large animal such as a horse,” Jung said. “Risk factors include
Moissanite was diagnosed by his primary veterinarians, Charlene Cook and Lauren Shamon with Central Georgia Equine Services in Fort Valley, Georgia.
“I had taken Moissanite in to have his teeth floated [a normal dental procedure to manage the length of a horse’s continually growing teeth],” said owner Katlynn Cross of Perry, Georgia. “It was during the routine examination for the dental procedure that Dr. Shamon discovered the irregular heartbeat. She recommended that we contact Auburn, so that is what we did.”
On March 5, the thoroughbred was admitted to Auburn and underwent the TVEC procedure.
“For a TVEC procedure, we insert catheters into the heart through the animal’s neck,” Jung said. “We then deliver an electrical impulse to reset the heart rhythm. This was done on Tuesday, March 6, and the result was a complete success with no complication.”
After remaining under observation as an ICU patient overnight, Moissanite was re-examined and discharged to her owner on March 7.
“The veterinary group at Auburn is phenomenal,” Cross said. “I am a worrier, and this was a stressful event for me. The medical team kept me informed and calm throughout the entire process, and I am so happy with the outcome. My horse is acting normal and does not seem to have any adverse effects or complications.”
Cross said she has plans to return Moissanite to his jumping career relatively shortly.
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