Veterinary Cardiology

1/2 Normal echo from a GSD, long axis view

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:23:50 GMT

This movie shows an echo from a normal GSD. Obtained from the standard right parasternal long axis view. This view is the primary/main view used in echo.

2/2 Normal echo from a GSD, short axis view

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:21:25 GMT

This movie shows an echo from a normal GSD. Obtained from the right parasternal short axis view.

1/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:20:08 GMT

Standard right parasternal long axis view from a normal whippet.

Steps in evaluation of an image are generally along the following lines:

Left atrial diameter / size appears normal.
Left ventricular diameter appears normal and its shape is normal, i.e. 'bullet-shaped' and not globoid.
The pericardial (lung) reflection is adjacent to the left heart and thus there is no evidence of pericardial fluid.
Left ventricular contractility is good.
Right heart appears to be of a normal size. When dilated this becomes more prominent, pushing the left heart away from the probe.
Mitral and tricuspid valves appear normal, with no thickening, nodules or prolapse.
The ECG shows a normal sinus arrhythmia.

This is one of a series of 25 videos.

2/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:18:42 GMT

Same view as the previous movie, but with Doppler colour flow mapping (CFM).

The still image below shows normal diastolic (inward) flow through the AV valves (red laminar flow). During systole (in the movie) there is no evidence of valvular regurgitation (see Mitral Valve Disease).

3/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:17:12 GMT

Same view as movie 1, but with the 2-D sector width reduced to focus on the mitral valve.

Reducing the sector width significantly improves the frame rate (= 190 fps in this movie) and thus when reviewing the movie loop frame by frame, much more detail and movement is appreciated. However, note that this will not be evident on this internet movie which is limited to 25 fps.

4/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:16:04 GMT

Again the same view as movie 1, but the depth has been reduced and sector angle narrowed to focus on the tricuspid valve.

5/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:14:08 GMT

Same view as the previous movie (4) with but with colour Doppler. This demonstrates normal diastolic (inward) red laminar flow through the tricuspid valve and absence of any significant systolic regurgitation.

6/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:12:55 GMT

Modified right parasternal long axis view to show the aorta, aortic valve (AV) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). The aortic valve cusps are thin and normal, they move well. There is no dilation of the aorta.

7/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:11:51 GMT

Same view as the previous movie (6) with colour Doppler. There is not a turbulent jet of flow in systole and no diastolic valvular regurgitation. However visualising this in real-time is very difficult and it is easier to review the store movie loop frame by frame.

The systole frame below shows normal (blue) laminar flow out through the aorta.

8/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:10:37 GMT

A modified view obtained by tilting the probe from that obtained showing the aorta in movie 6, to show the right ventricular outflow tract, pulmonic valve and the proximal part of the pulmonary artery.

9/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:08:53 GMT

Same view as the previous movie (8) with colour Doppler showing normal laminar (blue) flow downwards and out through the pulmonary artery (see the systolic frame image below).

This is also a good view in which to obtain a spectral Doppler tracing because it provides good alignment to flow (see the spectral Doppler tracing below).

10/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:07:45 GMT

Right parasternal short axis view at the level of the papillary muscles.

The LV is symmetrical and round. The chamber is not dilated, or small. Contractility is good and synchronous. The right ventricle is seen in the near-field and is not enlarged.

11/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:06:07 GMT

Right parasternal short axis view at the level of the chordae tendineae.

The left ventricle is symmetrical and round. The chamber is not dilated, or small. Contractility is good and synchronous. The right ventricle is seen in the near-field and is not enlarged.

12/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:05:17 GMT

Right parasternal short axis view at the level of the mitral valve.

The left ventricle is symmetrical and round. The chamber is not dilated or small. Contractility is good and synchronous. The right ventricle is seen in the near-field and is not enlarged. The mitral valve cusps are seen to open and close, they are symmetrical and there is no thickening.

13/25 Whippet cross.

Mike Martin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:04:14 GMT

Right parasternal short axis view at the level of the aortic valve.

Three aortic valve cusps can be seen; these are fairly symmetrical and show no evidence of thickening. When closed they form an upside-down Y-shape.

The left atrium is of a normal size and a small auricle is seen.

The right atrium is of a normal size, leading to a normal tricuspid valve and then to the right ventricle and right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT).