Pattern recognition and feature extraction of canine celiac and cranial mesenteric arterial waveforms: normal versus chronic enteropathy--a pilot study

In this pilot study, we hypothesize that waveform patterns of the celiac and cranial mesenteric arteries differ pre- and post-prandially in normal dogs compared to those with chronic enteropathy. We further suggest that it is possible to classify these findings according to the type of disease present. Eleven dogs with chronic enteropathy and eight normal dogs were examined. Doppler examinations were performed at times 0 (fasted), and at 20, 40, 60 and 90 min post-prandially. The waveform shapes were described and the following features were extracted: resistive and pulsatility index, mean maximum velocity, mean diastolic velocity, peak systolic velocity, early diastolic notch ratio and the deceleration time interval. Dogs with inflammatory bowel disease had either lower or absent flow at fasting in early diastole compared to the other groups. Resistive and pulsatility indices decreased during digestion in all groups except those with protein losing enteropathy. The increase in mean diastolic flow during digestion in affected dogs was either lacking (protein-losing enteropathy) or significantly lower (inflammatory bowel disease, P<0.05) compared to normal dogs. Dogs with chronic enteropathies had abnormal arterial waveform shapes and suboptimal increases in diastolic blood flow during digestion and these findings worsened with the severity of the histological lesions present. Doppler ultrasound of the celiac and mesenteric arteries has great potential to enhance our understanding of intestinal disease in conscious dogs.