Comparison of pulsed wave and color Doppler myocardial velocity imaging in healthy dogs

Abstract

Background: Tissue velocity imaging (TVI) is increasingly used in small animal cardiology. Tissue velocity of the myocardial wall can be measured by pulsed wave (PW) or color Doppler (CD) imaging methods. Currently, the same reference ranges are used for PW TVI and CD TVI methods. However, if and how both methods correlate, and whether they can be used interchangeably, have not been assessed in small animals. Objectives: To compare the results of PW TVI and CD TVI measurements. Animals: Seventy-one healthy dogs. Methods: Longitudinal myocardial velocity profiles were recorded from the 4-chamber left apical view. Peak maximal systolic (S), early (E), and late diastolic (A) velocities were measured off-line in a blinded fashion in the septal and lateral left ventricular wall by PW TVI and CD TVI. Differences between peak PW TVI and CD TVI waves were analyzed by a paired t-test. Regression analysis and Bland-Altman difference plots also were used to assess agreement between methods. Results: There was a significant correlation between PW TVI and CD TVI (P o.001). However, S, E, and A waves measured by PW TVI were significantly higher than the CD TVI values (P o.001). Peak systolic and diastolic PW velocities were approximately 2.20cm/s higher than corresponding mean CD TVI velocities. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: PW TVI measurements are significantly higher compared with CD TVI measurements. Theses differences are clinically relevant. These methods should not be used interchangeably, and different reference ranges for PW TVI and CD TVI should be used. © 2010 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.