Procedure FAQs

They should withhold food for at least 8 hours prior. And they should be advised that their pet’s ventral abdomen and/or chest will be shaved (see appointment procedures). Having the client present is not encouraged since it will likely slow the exam and distract the sonographer from completing a thorough exam. But if the client insists then please discuss this with the VSI sonographer prior to the exam. Exceptions may be made to accommodate your client.

Most echocardiograms and abdominal sonograms are completed in approximately 30 to 45 minutes.

A room that can be darkened without interrupting your normal work flow; such as, a spare exam room, surgery room, Xray room or treatment area.

Generally no. We find sedation rarely necessary. But with patients that are aggressive or unusually anxious then injectable sedation using Butorphanol (0.2mg/kg) and Acepromazine (0.02mg/kg) IM or IV will ferequently be enough to take the “edge” off the nervousness and relax to allow a thorough sonogram. Fractious or aggressive cats will usually need Dexmedetomidine (5ug/kg) and Butorphanol (0.2mg/kg) IM or IV. Injectable sedatives or gas anesthesia (Isofluorane/Sevofluorane) are often used for the majority of the ultrasound-guided biopsy procedures. The duration of this biopsy procedure is approximately 10 minutes.

Yes, we will need one staff member with animal restraint experience.

All abnormal echocardiograms are interpreted by a cardiologist. All abdominal ultrasounds are interpreted by the DVM sonographer. Unusual findings may be reviewed by another experienced sonographer before a final report is complete

Abdominal ultrasound reports are emailed  the next day. Cardiac ultrasound reports  are reviewed by a cardiologist and sent the next day.

The pet is placed under light anesthesia/ heavy sedation for approximately  10 minutes. The biopsy is performed while the structure to be biopsied and the biopsy needle are simultaneously visualized sonographically. Activation of the color flow Doppler system allows for visualization and thus avoidance of nearby blood vessels. It is a very precise procedure. A normal coagulation panel including a platelet count should be confirmed prior to the procedure.

Often FNA is performed using a 22g needle x 3inch usually without sedation. A normal platelet count should be confirmed prior to the procedure.

In general, FNAs are requested when you suspect a mass, cyst, abscess, free fluid or abnormally enlarged organ suggestive of infiltrative disease. A FNA is a safe and inexpensive means to collect cells to be prepared for cytological interpretation and PARR/Flow Cell testing as well as for culture/MIC.

FNAs are often obtained from abnormal liver, spleen, lymph nodes, intestinal masses, pancreas, adrenals, prostate and unknown abdominal masses. These aspirates can provide results that help diagnose and direct treatment of the patient. Results are proportional to the quality of the sample and the degree of exfoliation from the lesion.  Keep in mind that FNAs do not provide information regarding structure of the tissue sampled. Sedation is often not needed for FNAs. The site should be shaved and cleaned with alcohol soaked gauze wipes.

Tru-Cut biopsy is usually requested when FNAs samples were not cellular or a larger tissue sample is needed to demonstrate tissue structure in pursuing a definitive diagnosis of non-infiltrative diseases involving the liver; such as, Hepatoma vs. Heptocellular carcinoma vs. Early cirrhosis vs. Chronic hepatitis vs. Microvascular dysplasia vs. Copper storage disease. In renal disease it is less often requested in private practice to define the cause of chronic renal disease; such as, interstitial nephritis, chronic glomerulonephritis and amyloidosis.