The utility of point-of-care ultrasound right-sided cardiac markers as a screening test for moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension in dogs

Publication date: Available online 31 May 2019Source: The Veterinary JournalAuthor(s): A.I. Vientós-Plotts, K.E. Wiggen, G.R. Lisciandro, C.R. ReineroAbstractDogs with respiratory disease can develop pulmonary hypertension (PH), a comorbid condition that can impact therapy and prognosis. Without confirmation using the criterion standard of echocardiography, this complication may be missed. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a simple, non-invasive screening test that may suggest PH. It was hypothesized that in dogs POCUS right-sided cardiac markers (R-SCM) at the subxiphoid view would predict moderate to severe PH confirmed by echocardiography. Forty-three client-owned dogs that underwent respiratory evaluation with POCUS and echocardiography were included. POCUS R-SCM evaluated in the subxiphoid view included subjective caudal vena cava distention (CVCsx), CVCsx>1 cm, gallbladder wall edema and ascites. PH was defined by tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG) as mild (30–49.9 mmHg), moderate (50–74.9 mmHg) or severe (>75 mmHg). POCUS subxiphoid views were blindly evaluated post hoc and compared to echocardiography. Chi square test and one-way ANOVA were used to evaluate correlations between POCUS R-SCM and echocardiographic diagnosis of moderate to severe PH.Twenty-six dogs with PH, and 17 dogs without PH, were enrolled. There was no significant difference in the presence or absence of any R-SCM between dogs with and without PH. When dogs with no PH an...
Source: The Veterinary Journal - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research