Evaluation of a novel echocardiographic view for the assessment of the pulmonary artery in dogs

Objectives1) To describe a novel echocardiographic view (left cranial oblique) for the assessment of the pulmonary artery in dogs 2) To compare this novel view with other standard views.AnimalsProspective inclusion of 48 echocardiograms performed on client-owned dogs.MethodsTwo standard views and the novel view were compared for quality of 2D images and spectral Doppler traces and also for pulmonary annulus diameter and spectral Doppler velocities. Association between view, heart rate and body weight and quality, annulus diameter, pulsed-wave and continuous-wave velocities were analyzed using regression analysis. Agreement between views was assessed by Bland–Altman analysis. Pulsed-wave and continuous-wave velocities were compared using the sign test for medians.ResultsForty-eight studies were undertaken of which thirty-nine were analyzed. The quality of 2D images was associated with view and heart rate. No significant difference was found in quality of spectral Doppler traces between views. Annulus diameter showed significant association with view, heart rate and weight. This measured about 0.26 cm less on one particular view. Spectral Doppler velocities showed no association with view, heart rate or weight. Continuous-wave velocities were significantly higher than pulsed-wave velocities in every view.ConclusionsThe novel left cranial oblique view can be used as an additional tool for the echocardiographic evaluation of the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary annulus diameter was consistently smaller measured from the one standard view compared to both the novel and other standard views. Comparable quality and velocities were obtained for spectral Doppler. Continuous-wave and pulsed-wave modes were not interchangeable.