Radiographic measurements related with the cardiac size in young female Bergamasca sheep

Abstract

RESUMO.-[Mensurações radiográficas relacionadas às dimensões cardíacas em borregas Bergamácia.]No exame radiográfico torácico, rotineiramente utilizado em casos em que a avaliação cardíaca é indicada, a análise quantitativa do coração é um recurso útil a ser usado em combinação com a avaliação subjetiva. Diversos estudos relacionados à análise objetiva do tamanho cardíaco têm sido realizados em várias espécies, incluindo ovinos; no entanto, há pouca informação sobre os parâmetros cardíacos de ovinos jovens da raça Bergamácia. Dessa for-ABSTRACT.-Babicsak V.R., Alves L.S., Tsunemi M.H. & Vulcano L.C. 2017. Radiographic measurements related with the cardiac size in young female Bergamasca sheep. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 37 (12):1526-1530. In thoracic radiographic examination, routinely used in cases which cardiac evaluation is indicated, quantitative assessment of the heart is a useful role to be used in combination with subjective analysis. Numerous studies about objective assessment of the cardiac size have been performed in several species, including sheep; however, there is scarce information regarding cardiac parameters of young Bergamasca sheep. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the average results and suggest the range of expected normal values for parameters related to the heart size of young female Bergamasca sheep by radiographic evaluation. Fifteen healty 8 months-old female Bergamasca sheep (mean weight: 41.13±4.71kg) were submitted to right lateral recumbency thoracic radiography. The length of the fourth and third to fifth thoracic vertebrae, cardiac height and width, vertebral heart size, cardiophrenic contact, caudal vena cava height, aorta caliber and tracheal angle were measured and the mean results found were, respectively: 2.46±0.11cm (95% CI 2., 1.88±0.19cm (95% CI 1.79-1.97), 2.05±0.11cm (95% CI 2.00-2.11) and 14.36±2.73° (95% CI 12.98-15.75). Cardiac height and width and the sum of these parameters were compared to the length of third to fifth thoracic vertebrae, resulting in the respective mean values: 1.84±0.08 (95% IC 1.80-1.88), 1.20±0.05 (1.17-1.22) and 3.04±0.11 (95% IC 2.98-3.09). Ratios of cardiophrenic contact to cardiac height and caudal vena cava height to length of fourth thoracic vertebra were also evaluated and the mean values obtained were 0.33±0.05 (95% IC 0.30-0.35) and 0.76±0.08 (95% IC 0.72-0.81), respectively. Authors suggest that the values available in this study may be used as reference for normal heart size in young female Bergamasca sheep and as basis for further studies.

Utilizing smartphone-based electrocardiography and thoracic radiography to evaluate cardiac function and morphology in geriatric Sika deer (Cervus nippon)

“…However, the limitations of a single lateral radiographic view include incomplete pulmonary assessment and difficulty in differentiating pulmonary from mediastinal abnormalities due to summation in the lateral view. 3,9,10 For the deer of the present study, the mean ± SD VHS of 8.6 ± 0.5 was similar to that of other ruminants, such as female domestic Bergamasca sheep (8.99 ± 0.27). 9 Our values were slightly less than those reported in alpaca crias 10 (9.36 ± 0.65) and other sheep breeds 13 (10.23 ± 0.43).…”

“…The orthogonal radiographs had identical exposure settings to those of the right lateral views. 3,9,10 Direct measurements were made from the radiographs utilizing a DICOM software viewer (Osirix Lite; Pixmeo SARL) and measurement tool. Absolute measurements of structures of interest were compared with measurements of other consistent anatomic structures, allowing standardization within deer, independent of body size.…”

“…In the right lateral projection, the cardiac height (base to apex) and cardiac width (cranial to caudal) were measured (Figure 1). 3,9,10 The height of the heart was determined from the ventral portion of the mainstem bronchi to the apex of the heart. The width was determined from the junction of the ventral margin of caudal vena cava with the right atrium to the cranial cardiac margin, perpendicular to the height measurement.…”

“…The width was determined from the junction of the ventral margin of caudal vena cava with the right atrium to the cranial cardiac margin, perpendicular to the height measurement. 3,9,10 These values were compared to the total height of the thorax, which was determined from the ventral apex of the heart to the ventral margin of the mid- caudal endplate of T5, and the distance between T3 and T5, which was determined by the mid-cranial endplate of T3 to the mid-caudal endplate of T5.…”

“…The additional criteria measured to assess the cardiac size included the intercostal spaces occupied by the width of the heart, tracheal angle of divergence from the thoracic vertebral column, and degree of cardiophrenic and cardiosternal contact. 3,9,10 The tracheal angle was determined by drawing straight lines along the dorsal border of the trachea and the ventral margin of the cranial thoracic vertebrae and measuring the resultant angle of intersection cranially. Cardiophrenic contact was determined by measuring from the apex of the heart to the most dorsal point of interface of the cardiac silhouette with the diaphragm.…”