Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Can Cambridge score predict heart ultrasound in bulldogs lying
By Bagardi, Mara et al.·Published in PloS one·2023·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences - DIVAS, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Does the Cambridge classification alone predict the possibility to perform echocardiographic examination in lateral recumbency in dogs affected by brachycephalic obstructive airways syndrome?
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 29 French Bulldogs with brachycephalic obstructive airways syndrome (BOAS) was studied to see if their temperament could help predict whether they could safely undergo an echocardiogram while lying on their side. The results showed that a dog's temperament was more important than the severity of their breathing issues in determining if the procedure could be done without causing breathing problems. While the Cambridge classification alone wasn't effective, combining it with the temperament score improved the chances of a successful exam. This suggests that understanding a dog's stress response is crucial for planning veterinary procedures.
People also search for: French Bulldog breathing problems · echocardiogram for dogs · brachycephalic airway syndrome treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate if the functional grading system (Cambridge classification) of brachycephalic obstructive airways syndrome (BOAS) and the temperament score can be useful tools in predicting the feasibility of echocardiographic examination in lateral recumbency. The hypothesis is that the temperament of the dog, rather than the severity of BOAS alone, can exacerbate respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, stertor, stridor and/or cyanosis) during lateral containment. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study. Twenty-nine French Bulldogs were included and classified according to the Cambridge classification for the BOAS and to the Maddern score for the temperament. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the Cambridge classification, of the temperament score and their sum to predict the feasibility of the echocardiography in lateral recumbency without dyspnea/cyanosis. RESULTS: 8 females (27.59%) and 21 (72.41%) males French Bulldogs of 3 years (IQR25-75 1-4), and 12.45 kg (IQR25-7511.5-13.25) were included. The Cambridge classification alone was not predictive for the possibility of performing the echocardiography in lateral recumbency, unlike temperament score and the sum of the two classification indices. The diagnostic accuracy of Cambridge classification (AUC 0.81, Se 50%, Sp 100%), temperament score (AUC 0.73, Se 75%, Sp 69%), and their sum (AUC 0.83, Se 75%, Sp 85%) cut-offs was moderate for each score. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The dog's temperament, and therefore its susceptibility to stress, rather than the severity of BOAS (Cambridge classification) alone, is a good predictor of the possibility of performing the echocardiographic examination in standing instead of lateral recumbency.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37285377/