Browsing by Author "Aherne, Michael"
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- Comparison of the mitral valve morphologies of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and dogs of other breeds using 3D transthoracic echocardiographyMenciotti, Giulio; Borgarelli, Michele; Aherne, Michael; Camacho, Paula; Haggstrom, Jens; Ljungvall, Ingrid; Lahmers, Sunshine M.; Abbott, Jonathan A. (Wiley, 2018-09-01)Background: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is more prevalent in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs) compared to dogs of other breeds at a given age. Abnormal valvular stress is thought to contribute to the development and progression of MMVD, and a relationship exists between mitral valve (MV) morphology and stress acting on the valve. Objectives: To determine whether the MV morphology of healthy adult CKCSs differs from the morphology of healthy adult dogs of other breeds determined by RT-3DTTE. Animals: Thirty-five healthy CKCSs and 41 healthy dogs of other breeds. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study. Dogs underwent physical examination, conventional echocardiography, and RT-3DTTE. RT–3DTTE datasets were analyzed using dedicated software for MV morphologic analysis. Morphologic variables were compared between CKCSs and dogs of other breeds. Results: The MV of healthy CKCSs had a smaller annulus height (0.46 ± 0.11 vs. 0.56 ± 0.17; P =.0021), tenting height (0.26 ± 0.12 vs. 0.42 ± 0.18; P <.001), tenting area (0.42 ± 0.15 vs. 0.79 ± 0.34; P <.001), normalized tenting volume (0.09 [0.05–0.13] vs. 0.14 [0.10–0.20]; P <.001), and normalized area of the posterior leaflet (0.57 ± 0.15 vs. 0.66 ± 0.18; P =.016) compared to healthy dogs of other breeds; this results in CKCSs having a flatter MV with reduced tenting, compared to the MV of other breeds. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: These morphologic features could confer a mechanical disadvantage and play a role in the predisposition of CKCSs to the early development of MMVD.
- Evaluation of right ventricular function using conventional and real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography in normal dogs and dogs with myxomatous mitral valve diseaseAherne, Michael (Virginia Tech, 2017-06-06)Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of real-time three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic analysis of right ventricular (RV) function in healthy dogs and to compare conventional and 3D echocardiographic (3DE) indices of RV function in dogs with various stages of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), classified per the guidelines of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, to those from healthy dogs. Animals: Twenty-two healthy dogs and 56 dogs with MMVD Methods: All dogs underwent conventional and 3D echocardiographic examinations. Measurements of 3DE RV function indices including RV end-diastolic volume (EDV), RV end-systolic volume (ESV), RV stroke volume (SV), and RV ejection fraction (EF) were recorded. Measurements of conventional indices of RV function were also obtained. RV EDV, ESV, and SV were indexed to bodyweight (BW) and analyzed using commercially available software. Results: Three-dimensional RV datasets could be acquired and analyzed in all dogs. Intra- and inter-observer coefficents of variation were > 20% for all 3D RV indices. Right ventricular EDV and ESV were decreased and RV EF was increased in dogs with advanced MMVD when compared to controls. Several conventional echocardiographic indices of RV function also differed between the control group and various MMVD groups. Conclusions: Real-time 3DE RV assessment is feasible in normal dogs with acceptable intra- and inter-observer variability. Several 3DE indices of RV systolic function differ between dogs with advanced MMVD when compared to normal dogs. Further investigation is required to determine if these differences have clinical implications.