A retrospective study on parapneumonic effusion in 130 dogs with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia.

peer reviewed[en] OBJECTIVE: To screen the occurrence of parapneumonic effusion in dogs. METHODS: Medical records were searched for dogs with a presumptive diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia from 2017 to 2021 at the Liege university teaching hospital. Bacterial pneumonia was presumptively diagnosed based on compatible clinical signs and findings; thoracic radiographs compatible with bacterial bronchopneumonia; and either increased serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a positive bronchoalveolar lavage culture or a positive clinical evolution in response to antibiotic therapy. Patients diagnosed with parasitic or other non-bacterial inflammatory pneumonia or with pulmonary neoplasia were excluded. Signalment, clinical findings, and outcome were recorded. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty dogs were included in the study, of which 44 dogs (33.8%) developed a parapneumonic effusion. Four of these dogs (4/44; 9%) had thoracocentesis performed, displaying a modified transudate (2) or septic exudate (2). CONCLUSIONS: Although parapneumonic effusion in dogs with a presumptive diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia appears to be rather common (33.8%), thoracocentesis or chest tube placement was rarely performed. Furthermore, the outcome of dogs with and without parapneumonic effusion appears to be similar

A retrospective study on the incidence of parapneumonic effusion in 130 dogs with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia

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Comparison of Focused Cardiac Ultrasound Findings in Lateral Versus Sternal Recumbency in Cats

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Left atrial measurement in lateral versus sternal recumbency in cats undergoind cardiac ultrasound examination

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Left atrial measurement in lateral versus sternal recumbency in cats undergoing focused cardiac ultrasound examination

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Left ventricular eccentricity index to assess precapillary pulmonary hypertension in dogs.

peer reviewed[en] INTRODUCTION: Interventricular septal flattening, frequently present in pulmonary hypertension (PH) can be quantified by the left ventricular eccentricity index (EI) measured at end-diastole (EId), end-systole (EIs) and at maximal septal flattening (EIm). In humans, EI correlates with invasive pulmonary arterial pressure. The aim of this study was to evaluate if EI correlates with parameters of right heart remodeling (RHR) and if EI is a quantitative marker of PH in dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Left ventricular eccentricity indices were retrospectively measured in four groups (no, mild, moderate and severe PH) with interpretable tricuspid and/or pulmonary regurgitation. RESULTS: Ninety-seven dogs were included, with no (n = 29), mild (n = 13), moderate (n = 25) and severe (n = 30) PH. The intra- and inter-observer variability for EI measurements ranged from 2 % to 11 %. All EI were significantly elevated in severe compared to no, mild and moderate PH (P < 0.0005). In the moderate group, EIs and EIm were higher compared to the no PH group (P < 0.01). Tricuspid and pulmonary regurgitation pressure gradients and RHR parameters correlated with EId, EIs and EIm in all groups. Optimal cut-off values discriminating moderate and severe PH from no and mild PH were 1.24 (Sensitivity (Se) 60 %; Specificity (Sp) 90 %) for EId, 1.34 (Se 67 %; Sp 95 %) for EIs and 1.37 (Se 76 %; Sp 83 %) for EIm. CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular eccentricity indices are reproducible echocardiographic variables increasing with severity of PH. Dogs with moderate and severe PH can be discriminated from dogs with no or mild PH using EIs and EIm