Effects of various factors on Doppler flow ultrasonic radial and coccygeal artery systolic blood pressure measurements in privately-owned, conscious dogs

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess the effects of age, body condition score (BCS) and muscle condition score (MCS) on indirect radial and coccygeal Doppler systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP) measurements in dogs.MethodsSixty-two privately-owned dogs were enrolled between June and July 2016. The BCS and MCS were determined by two investigators. Blood pressure was measured per published guidelines and using headphones, and the order of measurement site was randomized. Dogs were positioned in right lateral recumbency for radial measurements and sternal recumbency or standing for coccygeal measurements. Associations between SAP and other variables were assessed by correlation coefficients and analysis of covariance.ResultsRadial and coccygeal SAP measurements were moderately correlated (r = 0.45, P < 0.01). Radial SAP measurements were higher than coccygeal SAP measurements (mean difference 9 mmHg, P < 0.01), but discordance occurred in both directions. No difference was observed between the first measurement taken, the average of measurements 2–6, or the average of all 6 measurements for either the radial (128, 129, and 129 mmHg; P = 0.36) or coccygeal (121, 122, and 122 mmHg; P = 0.82) site. Associations were not found between SAP measurements for either site and age, weight, BCS, MCS, anxiety score, or cuff size. Heart rate decreased significantly from the start of acclimation to the end of the first data collection series regardless of site (P < 0.01).Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceInitial measurement site can be based on patient and operator preference given lack of associations with patient variables, but the same site should be used for serial SAP measurements given discordant results between sites.

ACVIM consensus statement: Guidelines for the identification, evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats

“…In cats, no effect of obesity on BP was observed by oscillometry, but cats that were underweight had slightly lower BP when measured with Doppler than those that were of ideal body weight or obese . Recent studies suggested no association among body condition score, body weight, and SBP measurements in dogs or cats, but muscle condition score and sarcopenia have been reported to affect radial but not coccygeal BP measurements in the cat …”

Peer Review #1 of "Indirect Doppler flow systolic blood pressure measurements taken with and without headphones in privately-owned, conscious dogs (v0.1)"

“…Manuscript to be reviewed inappropriately-sized cuffs was associated with over-and underestimating indirect blood pressure when too small or too large a cuff was used, respectively, in one study of oscillometric pressure measurements in dogs (Bodey et al 1994). However, a similar association was not identified in a more recent study of indirect Doppler flow collected measurements (Mooney et al 2017). In this study, cuff size as a percentage of limb circumference was not correlated with blood pressure results.…”

“…Finally, screening of apparently healthy dogs was not performed in this or prior reports for diseases associated with hypertension, such as chronic hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus, or kidney disease. In one study that found no association between age and blood pressure, approximately half of enrolled dogs had at least one known disease (Mooney et al 2017), but only 20% of them had a disease known to be associated with hypertension. Positive associations in some studies, thus, could reflect agerelated vascular stiffening and loss of compliance (Acierno & Labato 2004;Meurs et al 2000) or merely an increased prevalence of diseases associated with hypertension.…”

“…Dogs that were intolerant of the procedure, aggressive, or received sedation or anesthesia within the previous 12 hours were excluded from the study. All other dogs, regardless of disease status or medications received, were included to best approximate a clinical population and allow comparison with prior studies (Bosiack et al 2010;Hsiang et al 2008;Mooney et al 2017;Wernick et al 2012).…”

Indirect Doppler flow systolic blood pressure measurements taken with and without headphones in privately-owned, conscious dogs

“…Dogs that were intolerant of the procedure, aggressive, or received sedation or anesthesia within the previous 12 h were excluded from the study. All other dogs, regardless of disease status or medications received, were included to best approximate a clinical population and allow comparison with prior studies (Bosiack et al, 2010; Hsiang, Lien & Huang, 2008; Mooney et al, 2017; Wernick et al, 2012).…”