Pulse-wave analysis during routine blood pressure measurement shows potential to distinguish between sinus and nonsinus rhythm.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether pulse-wave analysis (PWA) performed by trained evaluators facilitates detection of nonsinus rhythm. ANIMALS: Same-day, high-definition oscillometry pulse-wave data and ECG results of 155 animals (144 dogs and 11 cats) were analyzed. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 18 participants from various backgrounds, all of whom received PWA training. The ability to distinguish between sinus and nonsinus rhythms was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The pulse-wave datasets were divided into 5 ECG categories. Agreement between ECG diagnoses and PWA-based arrhythmia detection was evaluated using Cohen κ values, and the correlation between the academic year of veterinary students and their κ values was assessed. RESULTS: All cardiology researchers demonstrated satisfactory accuracy in distinguishing pathological rhythms using PWA (area under the curve, 0.704 to 0.761), with the highest accuracy in detecting atrial fibrillation (area under the curve, 0.811 to 0.845). Fair agreement with ECG categorization was achieved by all 3 cardiology researchers, 2 of 5 general practitioners, and 3 of 10 veterinary undergraduates. The veterinary undergraduates' years of study were correlated with their diagnostic performance (Spearman ρ = 0.658; P = .019). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: PWA during routine noninvasive blood pressure measurement showed significant potential for the detection of pathological arrhythmias, notably atrial fibrillation. This approach yielded improved effectiveness when it was used by veterinarians with cardiology experience. Thus, introducing hands-on training courses, particularly those focused on cardiology and interactive workshops, may enable frontline veterinarians to promptly identify arrhythmias using PWA, facilitating timely ECG examinations or referrals.

Differences in ultrasound-derived arterial wall stiffness parameters and noninvasive blood pressure between Friesian horses and Warmblood horses.

BACKGROUND: Aortic rupture is more common in Friesians compared to Warmbloods, which might be related to differences in arterial wall composition and, as such, arterial wall stiffness (AWS). Currently, nothing is known about differences in AWS between these breeds. OBJECTIVES: Comparison of AWS parameters and noninvasive blood pressure between Friesians and Warmbloods. ANIMALS: One hundred one healthy Friesians and 101 age-matched healthy Warmbloods. METHODS: Two-dimensional and pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound examination was performed of the aorta, common carotid artery, and external iliac artery to define local and regional AWS parameters. Regional aortic AWS was estimated using aortic-to-external iliac artery pulse wave velocity (PWVa-e ) and carotid-to-external iliac artery pulse wave velocity (PWVc-e ). Noninvasive blood pressure and heart rate were recorded simultaneously. RESULTS: Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure and pulse pressure were significantly higher in Friesians compared to Warmbloods. No significant difference in heart rate was found. Most local AWS parameters (diameter change, compliance coefficient, distensibility coefficient) were significantly lower in Friesians compared to Warmbloods, indicating a stiffer aorta in Friesians. This difference could be confirmed by the regional stiffness parameters. A higher PWVa-e and PWVc-e was found in Friesians. For the cranial and caudal common carotid artery and external iliac artery, most local AWS parameters were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Results indicate that aortic AWS differs between Friesian and Warmblood horses. Friesians seem to have a stiffer aorta, which might be related to the higher incidence of aortic rupture in Friesians.

Investigation of percentage changes in pulse wave transit time induced by mini-fluid challenges to predict fluid responsiveness in ventilated dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether percentage changes in pulse wave transit time (PWTT%Δ) induced by mini-fluid challenges predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated anesthetized dogs. DESIGN: Prospective experimental trial. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Twelve Harrier hounds. INTERVENTION: Each dog was anesthetized with propofol and isoflurane after premedication with acepromazine, mechanically ventilated, and had a fluid challenge. This was repeated 4 weeks later. The fluid challenge, 10 mL/kg of colloid administration over 13 minutes, consisted of 3 intermittent mini-fluid challenges (1 mL/kg of each over a minute) with a minute interval, and the remaining colloid administration (7 mL/kg) over 7 minutes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Percentage change in velocity time integral of pulmonary arterial flow by echocardiography was calculated as an indication of change in stroke volume. Fluid responsiveness was defined as percentage change in velocity time integral ≥ 15% after 10 mL/kg colloid. Dogs responded on 14 fluid challenges and did not on 10. After 1, 2, 3, and 10 mL/kg of fluid challenge, PWTT%Δ1, 2, 3, 10 were measured. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were generated and areas under ROC curve were calculated for PWTT%Δ1, 2, 3 . A gray zone approach was used to identify the clinically inconclusive range. The area under the ROC curve for PWTT%Δ3 was 0.91 (P = 0.001). Cutoff value for PWTT%Δ3 was -2.5% (sensitivity: 86%, specificity: 90%). The gray zone for PWTT%Δ3 was identified as between -2.9% to -1.9% for which fluid responsiveness could not be predicted reliably in 6 out of 24 fluid challenges. CONCLUSIONS: In mechanically ventilated anesthetized dogs given a mini-fluid challenge of 3 mL/kg of colloid, PWTT%Δ could predict fluid responsiveness although the gray zone should be considered.

Ability of pulse wave transit time to detect changes in stroke volume and to estimate cardiac output compared to thermodilution technique in isoflurane-anaesthetised dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of pulse wave transit time (PWTT) to detect changes in stroke volume (SV) and to estimate cardiac output (CO) compared with the thermodilution technique in isoflurane-anaesthetized dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, experimental study. ANIMALS: Eight adult laboratory dogs. METHODS: The dogs were anaesthetized with isoflurane and mechanically ventilated. Reference CO (TDCO) was measured via a pulmonary artery catheter using the thermodilution technique and reference SV (TDSV) was calculated. PWTT was calculated as the time from the electrocardiogram R-wave peak to the rise point of the pulse oximeter wave. Estimated CO (esCO) was derived from PWTT after calibration with arterial pulse pressure (both non-invasive and invasive methods) and TDCO. Haemodynamic changes were induced by administration of phenylephrine (vasoconstriction), high isoflurane (vasodilatation and negative inotropy) and dobutamine (vasodilatation and positive inotropy). Trending between percentage change in PWTT and TDSV was assessed using concordance analysis and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. The agreement between esCO and TDCO was evaluated using the Bland-Altman method. RESULTS: The direction of percentage change between consecutive PWTT and the corresponding TDSV showed a concordance rate of 95%, with correlation coefficients of -0.86 (p<0.001). Area under the ROC curve for the change in PWTT to detect 15% change in TDSV was 0.91 (p<0.001). TDCO compared with esCO calibrated with invasive and non-invasive blood pressure showed a bias (precision of agreement) of 0.58 (1.54) and 0.57 (1.59) L minute-1 with a percentage error of ±61% and ±63%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In isoflurane-anaesthetized dogs, PWTT showed a good trending ability to detect 15% changes in SV. This technique is easy to use, inexpensive, non-invasive and could become routine anaesthetic monitoring. However, the agreement between absolute esCO and TDCO was unacceptable.

Arterial pulse wave propagation velocity in healthy dogs by pulse wave Doppler ultrasound.

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) values in healthy dogs using pulse wave Doppler ultrasound. A secondary aim was to determine the feasibility of this method and to report the intra- and interobserver reproducibilities of the PWV in conscious dogs. The data were studied in 30 healthy, adult, male (n = 15) and female (n = 15) dogs. The time interval marked between the R wave peak of the electrocardiogram and the intersection of the blood flow wave upstroke of the Doppler spectrum with the baseline of zero frequency was determined for the carotid (T1) and for the femoral (T2) arteries. The distance covered by the pulse wave (L) was determined. The PWV was then calculated using the following formula: L/T2 - T1. The mean values of PWV calculated from the total sample (n = 30) evaluated were 13.41 ± 2.20 m/s. No significant statistical difference was observed for the PWV measurements between males (14.82 ± 3.18 m/s) and females (12.64 ± 2.45 m/s). The analysis revealed no intra nor interobserver differences. A reasonable reproducibility of the PWV measurements was showed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and the coefficients of variation (CV). These data demonstrate that noninvasive vascular Doppler analysis is a feasible and reproducible method to determine the carotid-femoral PWV in dogs.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic characteristics of the diseased canine prostate gland.

The work was carried out on a total of 26 male dogs that on the basis of clinical examination, prostate ultrasound and prostate biopsy, were divided prospectively into four groups: (1) normal dogs (control group; n = 8); (2) dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia (group BPH; n = 8); (3) dogs suffering from prostatitis (group prostatitis; n = 4); (4) dogs with prostatic tumors (group tumors; n = 6). The examination of the prostate by means of contrast medium and dedicated ultrasound system allowed a detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of prostatic vessels in normal and diseased conditions, enabling the detection and characterization of different disease states, and quantification of parameters such as peak intensity of perfusion (%), arrival time of the contrast medium to its maximum value of video intensity (time to peak [TTP; seconds]), regional blood volume, regional blood flow, and mean transit time (MTT [seconds]). The hemodynamic indices TTP (P < 0.01) and MTT (P < 0.001) of diseased prostate groups were significantly lower than those in the normal prostate group although there were no differences among diseases. Optimal cutoff values were 31 seconds (Sensitivity: 72%; Specificity: 88%) and 47 seconds (Sensitivity: 100%; Specificity: 88%) while area under receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.86 (P < 0.01) and 0.97 (P < 0.01) for TTP and MTT, respectively. The qualitative evaluation of vascular patterns showed differences between normal and diseased prostate glands. The latter were characterized by an alteration of the normal vascular appearance consisting of loss of the subcapsular arterioles and lack of a centripetal vascular pattern. The qualitative aspect of the study highlighted the different vascular architecture between BPH, prostatitis, adenocarcinoma, and lymphoma. This study shows how contrast-enhanced ultrasound represents a valid and noninvasive method for highlighting and characterizing prostatic vasculature. Furthermore, it allows the operator to obtain qualitative and quantitative data that are useful for the diagnosis of selected prostatic diseases. In conclusion, contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be a valuable noninvasive diagnostic tool to improve the diagnostic accuracy of prostate diseases in the dog.

Transrectal Doppler sonography of uterine blood flow during the first two weeks after parturition in Simmenthal heifers.

Transrectal Doppler sonography was used to evaluate uterine blood flow during the first two weeks after parturition in six primiparous Simmental cows. The uterine blood flow was evaluated on the day of parturition (Day 0), once daily from Days 1 to 8 and then every other day until Day 14. Blood flow was quantified by determining the diameter (D), the time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMV), the pulsatility index (PI) and the blood flow volume (BFV) of the uterine arteries ipsilateral and contralateral to the formerly pregnant uterine horn. During the first four days after calving D, TAMV and BFV declined (ipsilateral: TAMV 70%, BFV 87%, contralateral: D 47%, BFV 84%; p < 0.05), while PI increased (ipsilateral 158%, contralateral 100%; p < 0.05) distinctly. Between Days 4 and 14 only the ipsilateral D (12%) and the BFV of both arteries (ipsilateral 5%, contralateral 8%) decreased (p < 0.05). Blood flow variables were very strongly correlated with each other (r > ±0.75, p < 0.05), with negative correlations with PI and positive correlations with all other investigated factors. Overall, this study revealed characteristic changes in uterine perfusion during the first two weeks after parturition in cows that were pronounced during the first four days postpartum.