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

Abstract

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 0 , E t /A t, and E 0 t / A 0 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. K E Y W O R D S diagnosis, echocardiography, hemodynamics, ultrasonography 1 | INTRODUCTION Normal hepatic venous blood flow has low velocity and a pulsatile pattern that reflects the changes in right atrial pressure throughout the Abbreviations: A 0 , velocity of the tricuspid annulus systolic excursion in late diastole; BW, body weight; CV, coefficient of variation; E 0 , velocity of the tricuspid annulus systolic excursion in early diastole; FAC%, fractional area change; HR, heart rate; RV, right ventricle; S/D, ratio between the S and the D wave derived from hepatic venous Doppler; S 0 , velocity of the tricuspid annulus systolic excursion; SAP, systolic arterial pressure; TAPSE, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion; TDI, tissue Doppler imaging.

N‐terminal brain natriuretic peptide, cardiactroponin‐I, and point‐of‐care ultrasound in dogs with cardiac and noncardiac causes of nonhemorrhagic ascites

“…One previous study compared Doppler variables of hepatic venous flow to right ventricular systolic and diastolic variables in dogs and determined velocity of spectral waves could be correlated with functional indices of the RV such as TAPSE, FAC% and longitudinal myocardial velocity (S′). However, this study did not determine the size of the hepatic vessels 51 . A similar study examined the velocities of the hepatic A, S, D, and V waves in dogs with PH.…”

“…However, this study did not determine the size of the hepatic vessels. 51 A similar study examined the velocities of the hepatic A, S, D, and V waves in dogs with PH. Although this study indicated weak to moderate correlations with functional variables of the RV, a D wave cut‐off of 11.6 cm/s had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 35% to differentiate patients with severe PH from healthy dogs.…”