title: EFFECT OF SEDATION ON CONTRAST-ENHANCED ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF THE SPLEEN IN HEALTHY DOGS.
abstract: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the spleen enables the dynamic assessment of the perfusion of this organ, however, both subjective and quantitative evaluation can be strongly influenced by sedative agent administration. The purpose of this prospective, experimental study was to test effects of two sedative agents on splenic perfusion during contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the spleen in a sample of healthy dogs. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the spleen was repeated in six healthy Beagles following a cross-over study design comparing three protocols: awake, butorphanol 0.2 mg/Kg intramuscular (IM), and dexmedetomidine 500 μg/m(2) IM. After intravenous injection of a phospholipid stabilized sulfur hexafluoride microbubble solution (SonoVue®, Bracco Imaging, Milano, Italy), the enhancement intensity and perfusion pattern of the splenic parenchyma were assessed and perfusion parameters were calculated. Normal spleen was slightly heterogeneous in the early phase, but the parenchyma was homogeneous at a later phase. Sedation with butorphanol did not modify perfusion of the spleen. Dexmedetomidine significantly reduced splenic enhancement, providing diffuse parenchymal hypoechogenicity during the entire examination. Measured parameters were significantly modified, with increased arrival time (AT; (< 0.0001) and time to peak (TTP; P < 0.0001), and decreased peak intensity (PI; P = 0.0108), wash-in (P = 0.0014), and area under the curve (AUC; P = 0.0421). Findings supported the use of butorphanol and contraindicated the use of dexmedetomidine as sedatives for splenic contrast ultrasound procedures in dogs. Short-term and diffuse heterogeneity of the spleen in the early venous phase was determined to be a normal finding.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinic dell'Orologio, Sasso Marconi, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fina
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Emmelie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vanderperren
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duchateau
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jimmy H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000737:chemistry; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D002077:Butorphanol; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
keywords: contrast-enhanced ultrasound; dog; perfusion; sedation; spleen