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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Med Sci / Transabdominal ultrasonographic measurement of caudal vena c...
Veterinary medicine and science2021; 7(5); 1451-1459; doi: 10.1002/vms3.506

Transabdominal ultrasonographic measurement of caudal vena cava to aorta derived ratios in clinically healthy neonatal foals.

Abstract: Ultrasonographic measurement of the vena cava and aorta (Ao) diameters and their ratios have been suggested to be a reliable way of quantifying hypovolemia. To evaluate the feasibility and reliability of an ultrasonographic technique for measurement of Ao and caudal vena cava (CVC) and derived ratios using three different acoustic windows in a population of healthy neonatal foals. Correlation between Ao and CVC measurements and ratios and foals' age or bodyweight were also investigated. In 14 healthy foals aged less than 7 days, the diameters of the Ao and of the CVC in long and short axis were measured by two observers from images obtained using three different ultrasonographic imaging planes (left dorsal, left ventral and right views). The Ao and CVC cross-sectional area and the CVC/Ao diameter and area ratios were calculated. Image quality was subjectively assessed. Intraobserver and interobserver reliabilities for image quality scores and measurements were evaluated between the two observers. Simple linear regression models were used to identify correlations between the CVC/Ao measurements and ratios and the age and bodyweight of the foals. The left ventral view showed the highest reliability. A correlation between bodyweight and the short axis measurement of the CVC was found (R  = 0.385; p = 0.018). Age was positively correlated with the long axis of measurement of the CVC (R  = 0.426; p = 0.011) and CVC/Ao diameter ratio (R  = 0.625; p = 0.001). The left ventral view allows the Ao and CVC cross sections to be easily visualized and measured in neonatal foals in right lateral recumbency.
© 2021 The Authors Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-03 PubMed ID: 33939323PubMed Central: PMC8464261DOI: 10.1002/vms3.506Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research article studies the feasibility and reliability of an ultrasound technique that measures the diameters and corresponding ratios of the aorta and caudal vena cava in healthy neonatal foals. The study found a correlation between these ultrasonographic measurements and ratios and the foals’ age or bodyweight.

Background

  • This research attempts to evaluate the reliability and feasibility of using ultrasonography to measure the caudal vena cava (CVC) and the aorta (Ao) diameters and their derived ratios in healthy neonatal foals.
  • These measurements have previously been suggested as an effective way of quantifying hypovolemia, a condition where there’s less blood than needed in the body.

Method

  • The researchers performed the ultrasonographic measurements using three different acoustic windows, or viewing planes for the ultrasound: left dorsal, left ventral and right views.
  • Two observers separately performed the measurements on the same 14 healthy foals, aged fewer than 7 days. The goal was to measure the Ao and CVC diameters in both long and short axes and then calculate their derived ratios, including cross-sectional areas and diameter ratios.
  • They also subjectively assessed the quality of the images obtained from the ultrasound.

Findings

  • The left ventral view was determined to be the most reliable ultrasonographic view.
  • The research identified a correlation between the bodyweight of the foals and the short axis measurement of the CVC (R = 0.385; p = 0.018).
  • An age-related correlation was found with the long axis measurement of the CVC (R = 0.426; p = 0.011) and the CVC/Ao diameter ratio (R = 0.625; p = 0.001).

Implications

  • The research indicated that the left ventral view allows the Ao and CVC cross sections to be easily visualized and measured in neonatal foals in right lateral recumbency.
  • The findings lend credibility to the use of ultrasonography as a reliable method for monitoring changes in the neonatal foal fluid status and allows for early intervention if hypovolemia is suspected.

Cite This Article

APA
Del Prete C, Freccero F, Lanci A, Hallowell GD, Bullone C, Castagnetti C, Pasolini MP. (2021). Transabdominal ultrasonographic measurement of caudal vena cava to aorta derived ratios in clinically healthy neonatal foals. Vet Med Sci, 7(5), 1451-1459. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.506

Publication

Veterinary medicine and science
ISSN: 2053-1095
NlmUniqueID: 101678837
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 7
Issue: 5
Pages: 1451-1459

Researcher Affiliations

Del Prete, Chiara
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Freccero, Francesca
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Lanci, Aliai
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Hallowell, Gayle D
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Leicestershire, UK.
Bullone, Chiara
  • Private Practitioner, Naples, Italy.
Castagnetti, Carolina
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
  • Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Pasolini, Maria Pia
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / diagnostic imaging
  • Body Weight
  • Horses
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Ultrasonography / veterinary
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / diagnostic imaging

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Casalta H, Busoni V, Eppe J, Grulke S, Merveille AC, Moula N, Gommeren K. Ultrasonographical Assessment of Caudal Vena Cava Size through Different Views in Healthy Calves: A Pilot Study. Vet Sci 2022 Jun 22;9(7).
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  2. Scala E, Durie I, Gommeren K, Saegerman C, van Galen G. Ultrasonographic Assessment of Caudal Vena Cava Collapsibility Index, Caudal Vena Cava-to-Aorta, and Femoral Vein-to-Artery Ratios in Healthy Sedated Adult Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 28;15(19).
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  3. Erturk A, Sevinc M. The ultrasonographic evaluation of caudal vena cava diameter before and after fluid replacement in neonatal dehydrated calves with diarrhea. BMC Vet Res 2025 Jul 2;21(1):424.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04759-zpubmed: 40604891google scholar: lookup
  4. Whitelock A, Goodwin W, Pratt S, Nash K. Feline caudal vena cava to aorta ratio reference interval. J Feline Med Surg 2024 Dec;26(12):1098612X241303309.
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