Ultrasound diagnostics
The ultrasound diagnostic method is useful in internal medicine, orthopedic, neurological, and many other problems.
When it comes to emergency veterinary medicine, ultrasound of dogs and cats as a diagnostic method is extremely important for determining the existence of diseases that can endanger the patient’s life.
Methods of ultrasound diagnostics
This diagnostic method is very useful for assessing conditions such as the acute abdomen, the presence of a foreign body in the abdomen, the presence of free fluid between organs, neoplasms, and many other conditions. In dogs and cats, there are two methods of ultrasound examination of the abdomen, and they are:
- AFAST method – a rapid ultrasound method of examining the abdomen of an animal to confirm or exclude the suspicion of the presence of free fluid.
- Complete examination – this method examines each organ separately and assesses its condition.
AFAST method of ultrasound examination
When it comes to emergency veterinary medicine, ultrasound examination of dogs and cats in the form of the AFAST method is most often used. The AFAST ultrasound examination method is an abbreviation of Focussed Abdominal Assessment using Sonography in Trauma, which means focused ultrasound examination of the abdomen in trauma. This method is very important for emergency veterinary medicine.
In addition to the examination of the abdominal cavity in dogs and cats, ultrasound diagnostics has gained importance in the examination of the thorax in dogs and cats. This method of examination is new and innovative and is based on the application of ultrasound for the examination of organs in the thoracic cavity, in the first place for the examination of the pleural cavity, lung tissue, and heart.
TFAST ultrasound examination method
Following the example of the AFAST method used to examine the abdominal cavity in animals, the TFAST system was developed, which is an abbreviation of Focussed Thoracic Assessment using Sonography in Trauma, and in translation means focused ultrasound examination of the thorax in trauma. One of the most important pieces of information that this method provides us is the distinction between respiratory and non-respiratory causes of dyspnea (difficulty breathing) in animals.
Also, with the help of this method, we can, similarly to the abdomen, determine the presence of free fluid in the thoracic cavity, regardless of where exactly it is located. Also, one of the most important and most common applications, and which is very important for patients in the emergency center, is the assessment of the existence of pneumothorax in animals, which can occur for many reasons and can be life-threatening.
Our clinic is equipped with the most modern ultrasound device, with which we can quickly and painlessly determine the presence of conditions that can be life-threatening for the patient.