Uterine bidimensional and Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of feline pyometra

BLANCO PG; RUBE A; LÓPEZ MERLO M; BARRENA JP; BATISTA PR; RE N; TÓRTORA M; GOBELLO C

Viena

Congreso; XX EVSSAR Congress; 2017

EVSSAR

Feline pyometra is often difficult to diagnose as there may be mild clinical signs and laboratory changes[1]. The assessment of uterine artery Doppler parameters could contribute to improve its diagnosis. The aim of this study was to report uterine Doppler ultrasonographic parameters during feline pyometra and to unveil the influence of the presence of clinical signs of systemic illness on these parameters. Fourteen mixed-bred, post estrus (7 to 33 days) queens were included in this study. According to clinical and ultrasonographic findings, the cats were assigned to a pyometra group (PYO; n = 7) or pregnant group (PRG; n = 7)[2]. In all the queens, color and pulsed-wave Doppler evaluations of uterine arteries were performed. Peak systolic velocity (PSV; m/s) and end diastolic velocity (EDV; m/s) were measured to automatically calculate resistance index (RI)[3]. Additionally in PYO queens, the widest cross-sectional diameter (D) and wall thickness (W) of uterine horns were assessed. Doppler ultrasonographic parameters were compared between groups using Student?s t-tests. Uterine horns diameter, W, PSV, EDV, and RI values in PYO queens with and without clinical signs of systemic illness were compared with the same test. Finally, bidimensional and Doppler ultrasonographic parameters in PYO animals were correlated by Pearson?s test (SPSS 18.0; SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA).The level of significance was set at 0.05.PRG queens delivered healthy kittens at term, while PYO females underwent ovariohysterectomy and pyometra was confirmed by gross evaluation of the excised uterus. Values of PSV, EDV and RI for PYO and PRG groups were 0.19±0.03 m/s vs 0.21±0.04 m/s (P>0.1), 0.07±0.03 m/s vs 0.1±0.05 m/s (P>0.1), and 0.61±0.03 vs 0.53±0.09 (P