• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.60.1-60.9
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• 2021

Background: Echocardiography is a primary tool used by veterinarians to evaluate heart diseases. In recent years, various studies have targeted standard echocardiographic values for different breeds. Reference data are currently lacking in Maltese dogs and it is important to fill this gap as this breed is predisposed to myxomatous mitral valve disease, which is a volume overload disease. Objectives: To establish the normal echocardiographic parameters for Maltese dogs. Methods: In total, 23 healthy Maltese dogs were involved in this study. Blood pressure measurements, thoracic radiography, and complete transthoracic echocardiography were performed. The effects of body weight, age and sex were evaluated, and the correlations between weight and linear and volumetric dimensions were calculated by regression analysis. Results: The mean vertebral heart size was 9.1 ± 0.4. Aside from the ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and the left atrial to aorta root ratio, all the other echocardiographic parameters were significantly correlated with weight. Conclusion: This study describes normal echocardiographic parameters that may be useful in the echocardiographic evaluation of Maltese dogs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.209-213
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• 2016

This study evaluated several known echocardiographic markers related to the assessment of severity in dogs with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) after the closure of ductus arteriosus (DA). Forty-two dogs with patent ductus arteriosus were enrolled in this study. Evaluated echocardiographic markers were left atrial to aortic root ratio, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension to aortic root ratio, indexed left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions, end-diastolic and end systolic volume index, pulmonic flow to systemic flow (Qp/Qs) ratio, velocities of pulmonary regurgitant and systolic jets, pulmonary flow profiles and the presence of mitral regurgitation. Those markers were evaluated before, 1 day, and 30 days after the closure of DA. Statistically significant changes in some echocardiographic markers (i.e., Qp/Qs) were observed. Although several studies in human and dogs have evaluated the clinical outcome of PDA occlusion using several echocardiographic markers, this study has firstly evaluated all echocardiographic markers known to be useful for assessing the clinical outcome of PDA occlusion in human, and has demonstrated that those markers including the Qp/Qs and pulmonary flow profiles were useful in evaluating of clinical outcome of PDA in dogs and the reduction of LA and LV preload after ductal closure could dramatically reduce after successful ductal occlusion of PDA in dogs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.183-189
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation, according to postnatal age, between plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and echocardiographic parameters for the assessment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants with respiratory distress. Methods: We enrolled 42 preterm infants with respiratory distress who underwent serial echocardiographic evaluation with simultaneous plasma BNP measurements until ductal closure. The correlations between BNP levels and the following 4 representative echocardiographic parameters were studied: diameter of the ductus arteriosus (DA), ratio of the left atrial diameter to the aortic diameter (LA/Ao), ratio of the PDA diameter to the infant's left pulmonary artery diameter (PDA/LPA), and the antegrade diastolic flow of LPA (DFLPA). Results: BNP levels were significantly correlated to the magnitude of the ductal shunt, comprising the DA diameter, PDA/LPA ratio, LA/Ao ratio, and antegrade DFLPA for the overall study period. The earliest significant correlation, starting from postnatal day 2, was observed between the LA/Ao ratio and BNP levels. The PDA/LPA ratio and the antegrade DFLPA showed significant correlations with BNP levels postnatal day 3 onward, and with the DA diameter, postnatal day 5 onward. Conclusion: BNP levels and echocardiographic parameters showed a positive correlation, but the significance of the correlations differed according to the postnatal age, especially during the first few days of life.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.984-989
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• 1988

2-D echocardiographic examination of the aortic root diameter was known to be useful in the selection of the size of the prosthetic valve. Valve-patient mismatch was occasionally a serious problem after valve replacement, especially in aortic valve disease. Preoperative knowledge of the patient`s valve annulus size is therefore of great importance in the surgical management of these patients. So the relationship between preoperative 2-D echocardiographic diameter of the annulus size and replaced prosthetic valve were evaluated. 13 patients were analyzed in this study. 2-D echocardiographic measurements of aortic annulus diameter, as determined from the parasternal long axis view and apical four chamber view, demonstrated a high correlation with actual prosthetic valve size implanted at surgery[r=0.86, p< 0.001, SEE=1.08].

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.279-282
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• 2017

A 9-month-old, female, mixed-breed dog was presented with dyspnea, exercise intolerance and a left apical heart murmur. Echocardiography revealed mitral systolic regurgitant flow by morphological abnormalities of the mitral apparatus including dilated annulus, excessively asymmetric mitral leaflets, short and stout chordae tendinae, and atrophic papillary muscles. The dog was diagnosed with congenital mitral dysplasia based on the echocardiographic features. Two months later, the dog died and the echocardiographic findings were confirmed by necropsy. This case report describes the echocardiographic features of mitral dysplasia with papillary muscle atrophy, and compares the gross necropsy findings in a dog.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.366-372
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• 1988

Cardiac tamponade occurring after open heart surgery is a rare, but fatal complication necessitating urgent drainage, though postoperative pericardial effusion is common. Two-dimensional echocardiographic study provides excellent postoperative visualization of pericardial effusion. Catheter insertion guided by two-dimensional echocardiography has been used to accomplish nonoperative drainage of symptomatic postoperative pericardial effusion in 4 cases. This technique offers simplicity, safety, and cost effectiveness.

• Journal of Biomedical and Translational Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.79-85
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• 2018

Echocardiography is one of the most useful diagnostic techniques for differentiating heart disease as well as mitral valve lesion. Forty client-owned small breed dogs (weight, 2.3-13.2 kg) aged between 8-17 years with myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) were included in the present study. The diagnosis of MMVD in dogs was made based on the clinical signs, chest radiography data, and echocardiographic findings. Echocardiographic examinations were conducted in accordance with recommended standards for dogs. M-mode, Doppler, and 2D echocardiography were performed in left and right lateral recumbency. 2D echocardiography was used to measure LA and Ao diameter from 2D short axis at the level of the aortic valve. In the comparison of conventional echocardiography indices in dogs with different stages of heart failure with MMVD, significant differences were observed in E/A ratio (p=0.005), EDV (p<0.001), EDVI (p<0.001), E-peak velocity (p= 0.001), ESV (p=0.028), ESVI (p=0.004), LA (p<0.001), LA/Ao Ratio (p<0.001), LVIDd (p<0.001), LVIDd/Ao Ratio (p<0.001), LVIDs (p=0.036), LVIDs/Ao Ratio (p=0.002), and MR Velocity (p=0.026). In addition, distinct correlations were found in EDV (r=0.712), LA/Ao ration (r=0.830), LVIDd (r=0.724), and LVIDd/Ao ratio (r=0.759). This study found that known conventional echocardiographic indices, including EDV, LA/Ao ratio, LVIDd dimension, and LVIDd/Ao ratio correlated with the severity of MMVD in point of significant differences and distinct correlations.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2015

This study evaluated the effects of alfaxalone (3 mg/kg, intravenously) on echocardiographic examination in healthy dogs using echocardiography. Six adult Beagle dogs were used for this study. Left ventricular dimensions with systolic indexes, trans-blood flow at all cardiac valvular annulus and trans-mitral tissue Doppler values were measured from routine transthoracic echocardiography. Although the changes were not statistically significant, heart rate, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, peak velocities of tricuspid A-wave and transpulmonic flow were increased after alfaxalone induction, while systolic blood pressure, fractional shortening, left ventricular ejection fraction, peak velocities of mitral E-wave, mitral A wave, tricuspid E-wave, transaortic flow and medial e'-, a'- and s'-peaks decreased after alfaxalone induction. No dogs showed hypoxemia during sedation, regardless of intubation and oxygen supply. Although alfaxalone showed mild cardiovascular depression, this protocol could be a good alternative sedative protocol for echocardiographic examination in healthy dogs because the cardiovascular depression was statistically and clinically insignificant. However, further studies in dogs with heart diseases should be conducted to confirm these findings after alfaxalone induction.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.207-211
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• 2019

This study was performed to compare the radiographic and echocardiographic features of cardiovascular changes between small and large dogs with heartworm diseases. Total of 49 dogs from two institutions were included in this study. The dogs were diagnosed with heartworm infestation and underwent thoracic and echocardiography. On thoracic radiographs, vertebral heart scale, reverse D shape, main pulmonary artery dilation, peripheral pulmonary artery dilation, and evidence of right heart failure were evaluated. On echocardiographs, visibility of worms, main pulmonary artery to aortic root (MPA/Ao) ratio, right to left ventricular basal diameter (RVD/LVD) ratio, and pulmonary hypertension were evaluated and analyzed between small and large dogs. The proportion of reverse D shape of the heart and accuracy for right ventricular hypertrophy in small dogs were lower than those of the large dogs. For echocardiographic parameter, the MPA/Ao and RVD/LVD ratio in the small dogs were significantly lower than those of the large dogs. As the results, thoracic radiography have a tendency to underestimate the severity of HWD in small dogs and should be used with echocardiography.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.226-228
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• 2018