Characterization of Doppler spectrum of hepatic veins and correlation with structural and functional variables of the right ventricle in healthy dogs

BACKGROUND: Spectral Doppler assessment of hepatic veins may provide information on heart function. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To assess the normal pattern of hepatic venous flow using spectral Doppler ultrasound examination; to correlate this information with structural and functional variables of the right ventricle (RV), and to analyze the impact of age, sex, body weight quartiles, heart rate, cardiac rhythm, and systolic arterial pressure on the results in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: Sixty‐five healthy dogs. METHODS: Cross‐sectional observational study. The direction and maximum velocity of each of the 4 possible components of venous flow were determined from pulsed‐wave Doppler examination of the hepatic veins. In addition, structural and functional parameters (TAPSE, longitudinal strain, FAC%, S′, E(t)/A(t,) and E′(t)/ A′(t)) of the RV were evaluated. RESULTS: The same phase patterns for different waves were seen in all animals: A and V were retrograde waves, and S and D were anterograde waves. The velocity of the spectral waves increased with body weight (P < .05) and could be correlated with functional indices of the RV. A significant difference was found when comparing morphometric indices with body weight quartiles (P < .05). In addition, intra‐and inter‐observer assessments showed low variability. The mean duration of the examinations was 5.2 minutes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Hepatic spectral Doppler findings can be correlated with systolic and diastolic indices of the RV and vary with body weight.