Métodos ecodopplercardiográficos para avaliação da função diastólica em pequenos animais

Abstract

Doppler echocardiography is a very important complementary diagnostic tool in cardiovascular clinic of small animals and is already being used routinely for some time. One of the main information obtained from this is the quantification of systolic function of the left ventricle, through the calculation of ejection and shortening fractions. However, diastolic dysfunction precedes systolic dysfunction in some diseases such as dilated cardiomyopathy. Considering that quantification of diastolic function is still not a routine in veterinary medicine and that their commitment has serious clinical consequences for patients, this review aimed to discuss the Doppler echocardiographic methods for assessing left ventricular diastolic function in small animals and report the findings in major diseases that affect the cardiovascular system.