TRANSTHORACIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN NONSEDATED, FREE-RANGING HEALTHY AGOUTIS (DASYPROCTA AZARAE).

Most of the agouti species are kept in captivity, including the species Dasyprocta azarae. These animals are of zootechnical interest and, in addition, they can potentially be used as experimentation models because of their physical characteristics and possibility of manipulation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of the echocardiographic exam in nonsedated agoutis and to determine the normal reference ranges for the standard transthoracic echocardiographic parameters in healthy, adult, free-ranging agoutis found in an urban wood and intended for scientific investigations. Most of the echocardiographic parameters evaluated were similar to what has already been described for other rodent species such as rabbits or the Dasyprocta primnolopha agoutis. Based on the information compiled in this study, echocardiographic examination is feasible in awake adult, free-ranging agoutis. The results obtained from the morphologic and hemodynamic evaluation of the heart can help in future studies, either involving the clinical aspects or considering the potential use of these animals as an experimental model.

Characterization of Doppler spectrum of hepatic veins and correlation with structural and functional variables of the right ventricle in healthy dogs.

BACKGROUND: Spectral Doppler assessment of hepatic veins may provide information on heart function. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To assess the normal pattern of hepatic venous flow using spectral Doppler ultrasound examination; to correlate this information with structural and functional variables of the right ventricle (RV), and to analyze the impact of age, sex, body weight quartiles, heart rate, cardiac rhythm, and systolic arterial pressure on the results in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: Sixty-five healthy dogs. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study. The direction and maximum velocity of each of the 4 possible components of venous flow were determined from pulsed-wave Doppler examination of the hepatic veins. In addition, structural and functional parameters (TAPSE, longitudinal strain, FAC%, S', Et /At, and E't / A't ) of the RV were evaluated. RESULTS: The same phase patterns for different waves were seen in all animals: A and V were retrograde waves, and S and D were anterograde waves. The velocity of the spectral waves increased with body weight (P < .05) and could be correlated with functional indices of the RV. A significant difference was found when comparing morphometric indices with body weight quartiles (P < .05). In addition, intra-and inter-observer assessments showed low variability. The mean duration of the examinations was 5.2 minutes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Hepatic spectral Doppler findings can be correlated with systolic and diastolic indices of the RV and vary with body weight.

Use of focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) in the veterinary emergency room / Aplicabilidade da avaliação ecocardiográfica transtorácica focada (FATE) na sala de emergência veterinária

ABSTRACT: The use of bedside focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) is widespread in human medicine, and the potential for veterinary medicine has only recently been investigated. Focused echocardiographic examination can be beneficial in critically ill patients compared to other bedside diagnostic methods, as well as facilitating rapid therapeutic approaches in the emergency room. The aim of this review is to discuss FATE and identify its main applications in veterinary medicine. In this context, FATE has proved to be benefical even when carried out by a non-cardiologist physician or veterinarian. However, a few references on this subject exist in the veterinary literature and there is still a need for standardization of this technique for use in animals.

RESUMO: A avaliação ecocardiográfica transtorácica focada (FATE) utilizada em pacientes à beira leito já é bastante difundida na medicina, e apenas, recentemente tem se discutido a respeito deste assunto na medicina veterinária. Este exame pode trazer diversos benefícios aos pacientes críticos comparado aos outros métodos diagnósticos, além de facilitar e agilizar condutas terapêuticas na sala de emergência. O objetivo desta revisão é abordar a respeito desta modalidade de exame e identificar quais são suas principais aplicabilidades na medicina veterinária. Dentro deste contexto, a FATE tem se mostrado benéfica inclusive quando realizada por médicos ou veterinários não cardiologistas. No entanto, poucas são as referêcias veteriárias a respeito deste assunto e ainda há necessidade de uma padronização desta técnica para uso em animais.