title: FEASIBILITY AND SAFETY OF CONTRAST-ENHANCED ULTRASOUND IN THE DISTAL LIMB OF SIX HORSES.
abstract: Vascular alterations play important roles in many orthopedic diseases such as osteoarthritis, tendonitis, and synovitis in both human and equine athletes. Understanding these alterations could enhance diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) could be a valuable method for evaluation of blood flow and perfusion of these processes in the equine distal limb, however no reports were found describing feasibility or safety of the technique. The goal of this prospective, experimental study was to describe the feasibility and safety of distal limb CEUS in a sample of six horses. For each horse, CEUS of the distal limb was performed after intravenous injections of 5 and 10 ml, as well as intra-arterial injections of 0.5 and 1 ml contrast medium. Vital parameters were monitored and CEUS images were assessed qualitatively and quantitatively for degree of contrast enhancement. None of the horses had clinically significant changes in their vital parameters after contrast medium injection. One horse had a transient increase in respiratory rate, and several horses had mild increases of systolic blood pressure of short duration after intravenous, but not after intra-arterial injections. Intra-arterial injection was possible in all horses and resulted in significantly improved contrast enhancement both quantitatively (P = 0.027) and qualitatively (P = 0.019). Findings from this study indicated that CEUS is a feasible and safe diagnostic test for evaluation of the equine distal limb. Future studies are needed to assess the clinical utility of this test for horses with musculoskeletal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607.
authors.forename: Gabriela S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607.
authors.forename: Britton
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nixon
authors.affiliation: Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514.
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Tsuruta
authors.affiliation: Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dayton
authors.affiliation: Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607.
authors.forename: W Rich
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Redding
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607.
authors.forename: Meghann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lustgarten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006736:Horses; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial / Q000662:veterinary; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: contrast-enhanced; equine intra-arterial; ultrasound