No abstract

Our aim was to compare plastinated sections of the canine heart with corresponding two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic images. Thirteen dog hearts were fixed by dilation and then processed by the S10 silicon plastination method (Biodur). Two dogs without evidence of cardiac disease were imaged using 2D echocardiography so as to obtain a complete series of the standard right and left parasternal images, which were compared with corresponding plastinated slices obtained by knife sectioning of the hearts. The plastinated slices revealed the internal anatomy of the heart with great detail and were particularly useful to display the spatial relationship between complex anatomic structures. The plastinated slices corresponded accurately with the echocardiographic images. Because of the dilation of the right heart during the fixation process, it was not possible to obtain plastinated specimens in ventricular systole. This paper may be a reference atlas for assisting 2D echocardiography interpretation.

Findings suggested that thoracic omentalization may be considered for palliative treatment of cats with refractory neoplastic pleural effusion when frequent thoracocentesis is necessary and other treatments are not suitable.

OBJECTIVE To determine variability of global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rate (SR) measurements in dogs with and without cardiac disease derived from 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) by use of various software. ANIMALS 2 cohorts comprising 44 dogs (23 cardiovascularly healthy and 21 with cardiac disease) and 40 dogs (18 cardiovascularly healthy and 22 with cardiac disease). PROCEDURES Transthoracic echocardiographic images in each cohort were analyzed with vendor-independent software and vendor-specific 2-D STE software for each of 2 vendors. Values for GLS and SR obtained from the same left parasternal apical views with various software were compared. Intraobserver and interobserver variability was determined, and agreement among results for the various software was assessed. RESULTS Strain analysis was not feasible with vendor-independent software for 20% of images obtained with the ultrasonography system of vendor 1. Intraobserver and interobserver coefficient of variation was < 10% for GLS values, whereas SR measurements had higher variance. There was a significant difference in GLS and SR obtained for each cohort with different software. Evaluation of Bland-Altman plots revealed wide limits of agreement, with variance for GLS of up to 6.3 units in a single dog. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of longitudinal strain analysis were not uniform among software, and GLS was the most reproducible measurement. Significant variability in results among software warrants caution when referring to reference ranges or comparing serial measurements in the same patient because changes of < 6.5% in GLS might be within measurement error for different postprocessing software.

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of a combination of acepromazine maleate and butorphanol tartrate on conventional echocardiographic variables and on strain values obtained by use of 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in healthy dogs. ANIMALS 18 healthy medium- and large-size adult dogs. PROCEDURES Transthoracic echocardiographic examination (2-D, M-mode, color flow, spectral Doppler, and tissue Doppler ultrasonography) and high-definition oscillometric blood pressure measurement were performed before and after dogs were sedated by IM administration of a combination of acepromazine (0.02 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg). Adequacy of sedation for echocardiographic examination was evaluated. Circumferential and longitudinal global and segmental strains of the left ventricle (LV) were obtained with 2-D STE by use of right parasternal short-axis and left parasternal apical views. Values before and after sedation were compared. RESULTS The sedation combination provided adequate immobilization to facilitate echocardiographic examination. Heart rate and mean and diastolic blood pressures decreased significantly after dogs were sedated. A few conventional echocardiographic variables differed significantly from baseline values after sedation, including decreased end-diastolic LV volume index, peak velocity of late diastolic transmitral flow, and late diastolic septal mitral and tricuspid annulus velocities, increased ejection time, and increased mitral ratio of peak early to late diastolic filling velocity; global strain values were not affected, but 1 segmental (apical lateral) strain value decreased significantly. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that acepromazine and butorphanol at the doses used in this study provided sedation adequate to facilitate echocardiography, with only mild influences on conventional and 2-D STE variables.