FEASIBILITY OF PERCUTANEOUS CONTRAST ULTRASOUND-GUIDED CHOLECYSTOGRAPHY IN DOGS

Differentiating hepatocellular disease versus biliary obstruction can be challenging in dogs presented for icterus. The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the feasibility of percutaneous contrast ultrasound-guided cholecystography in dogs. Ten normal dogs weighing 7.6-13.0 kg (median 9.8 kg) were recruited. All dogs were considered normal based on complete blood count, serum chemistry profile, ultrasound examination, and percutaneous radiographic cholecystography. Percutaneous contrast ultrasound-guided cholecystography was performed using 0.5 ml of commercially available contrast agent and two conventional ultrasound machines for simultaneous scanning at two different locations. Two observers independently evaluated the time to initial detection of contrast in the proximal duodenum and duration of contrast enhancement via visual monitoring. Dynamic contrast enhancement was calculated using time-intensity curves. Mean (+/- SD) and median (range) of time to initial detection were 8.60 s (+/- 3.35) and 8.0 s (2.0-11.0), respectively, and mean and median duration were 50.45 s (+/- 23.24) and 53.0 s (20.0 - 70.0), respectively. Mean, median, and range of peak intensity were 114.1 mean pixel value (MPV) (SD +/- 30.7), 109.2 MPV, and 79.7-166.7, respectively, and mean, median, and range of time to peak intensity were 26.1 s (SD +/- 7.1 s), 24.0 s, and 19.0-41.0 s, respectively. Findings indicated that percutaneous contrast ultrasound-guided cholecystography is a feasible technique for detecting and quantifying patency of the bile duct in normal dogs. Future studies are needed to assess the diagnostic utility of this technique for dogs with biliary obstruction.