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The Clinical Team look on as Xena leaves the RVC, following the successful implantation of her pacemaker |
The Royal Veterinary College Sefton Equine Referral Hospital last week fitted a Pacemaker to Xena. Xena, a seven-year old Thoroughbred x Irish Draught mare who is in foal, was suffering from a rare condition - "complete", or "third degree" heart block. This means that the natural method of stimulating the heart to beat is no longer working. This results in a very low heart rate and as a consequence the mare had become very weak and was collapsing.
The only course of action to save the mare and foal was to fit a pacemaker. This is a rare procedure to carry out in a horse as the underlying disease of the heart is uncommon. This is the first time that it has ever been carried out in a mare with foal in this country.
Adrian Boswood, a Cardiologist from the RVC's Queen Mother's Hospital for Animals worked with Mike Archer, Equine Surgeon, to fit the pacemaker. Adrian Boswood's knowledge of pacemakers was key to ensuring the pacemaker was correctly positioned and functioning adequately.
The procedure did not require general anaesthesia and the surgery was done using ultrasound guidance rather then fluoroscopy because of the size of the animal. The pulse generator is located under the skin on Xena's neck, and a lead travels down through the jugular vein to the heart.
She is going home this week and will return
for monthly check-ups to monitor and adjust the heart rate as necessary. Xena's owner, Asier Cebeira, has said that he was relieved that her condition was
diagnosed so quickly and that, although she will not be ridden again, he hopes
that she will continue to produce foals.
16/02/01