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Case Reports
. 2020 Oct;10(3):308-316.
doi: 10.4314/ovj.v10i3.9. Epub 2020 Sep 15.

Use of saline contrast ultrasonography in the diagnosis of complete jugular vein occlusion in a horse

Andrea Corda  1   2 , Nicolò Columbano  1   2 , Valentina Secchi  1   2 , Antonio Scanu  1   2 , Maria Luisa Pinna Parpaglia  1   2 , Giovanni Mario Careddu  1   2 , Eraldo Sanna Passino  1   2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Use of saline contrast ultrasonography in the diagnosis of complete jugular vein occlusion in a horse

Andrea Corda et al. Open Vet J. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Thrombophlebitis and thrombosis are the most common causes of jugular vein occlusion in horses. Medical and surgical treatments aim to recanalize the occluded vessel and reduce proximal venous congestion and edema.

Case description: The present report describes a clinical case of equine jugular vein thrombosis (JVT) with complete vein occlusion diagnosed by saline contrast ultrasonography (SCU) and confirmed by contrast venography.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that the SCU test can be easily performed and objectively interpreted using standard ultrasound equipment; it is not expensive and it does not require x-ray exposure. The SCU test is a valid tool to assess vessel patency and presence of collateral circulation in JVT. The test could therefore be used to monitor the progression of the disease and the effectiveness of therapy against JVT in horses.

Keywords: Contrast; Equine; Jugular; Thrombus; Ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.. The device for producing the agitated saline contrast ultrasonography. It was made by two 60-ml syringes connected at right angles by a three-way stopcock attached to a flexible extension tube.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.. A 20-G intravenous catheter placed into the right congestive facial vein in the anesthetized horse.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.. Color Doppler image of the normal blood flow in the left jugular vein.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.. Bi-dimensional ultrasonographic image of the right jugular vein in longitudinal section. The lumen of the vessel was occluded by a heterogeneous, non-cavitating, hypoechoic structure compatible with a thrombus (arrows).ç
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.. Color Doppler examination of the occluded right jugular vein in longitudinal section (between arrowheads). The image shows the presence of blood flow in the periphery of the thrombus (arrow).
Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.. Bi-dimensional ultrasonographic image of the dilated right maxillary vein (between arrowheads). Note the turbulent and echogenic flow compatible with blood stasis near the thrombus.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 7.. Bi-dimensional ultrasonographic image of the right jugular vein, caudally to the thrombus, in longitudinal section (arrows). No microbubbles appeared caudally to the thrombus, following injection of the first saline contrast bolus.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 8.. Bi-dimensional ultrasonographic image of the heterogeneous, subcutaneous scare tissue localized at the level of the right mandibular angle.
Fig. 9.
Fig. 9.. Bi-dimensional ultrasonographic image of the left jugular vein in longitudinal section (arrows). Microbubbles appeared as small, intense, echo signals that passed in the vein lumen following agitated saline injection.
Fig. 10.
Fig. 10.. Venographic examination, latero-lateral view. Note the large number of collateral vessels draining the contrast.
Fig. 11.
Fig. 11.. Venographic examination, ventro-dorsal view. Note the large number of collateral vessels draining the contrast.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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