Assessment of right ventricular function by feature-tracking echocardiography in conscious healthy dogs

Novel two-dimensional echocardiographic technique allows strain (S) analysis of regional function and thus can supply information about regional deformation. In particular feature tracking echocardiography (FTE), based on a mono-dimensional technology, may offer more detailed information about septal deformation, analyzing separate activity of the left and right sided septal fibres. The aims were to quantify global and regional (both free wall and septal) right ventricular (RV) longitudinal S and strain rate (SR) and to explore statistical relationship between S and SR and age, sex, weight, breed (sighthound breed vs other breed) and heart rate. Cineloops were acquired from left apical 4- chamber, view optimized for the RV in 60 dogs. Within-day and between-day intra-observer measurement variability of the of RV global S and SR in normal dogs using the FTE resulted clinically acceptable (CV< 8.5%). Both S and SR showed a significant correlation with breed. Strain showed a significant weak positive correlation with weight; SR exhibited a significant moderate negative correlation with HR. There was no statistically significant difference between male and female. This study demonstrates for the first time that a novel FTE algorithm represents a promising and feasible non-invasive technique to assess RV myocardial function (both FW and septal deformation) also in dogs. Based on our results sighthound breed seem to need specific reference values.