Real-Time Monitoring of Cardiac Output Using Non-Invasive Impedance Cardiography in Dogs: A Pilot Study on Heartworm Extraction and Gastric Decompression.

Background: Gastric dilatation (GD) and heartworm disease (HW) can significantly impact cardiovascular function, necessitating timely intervention. This study evaluated hemodynamic changes in these conditions using impedance cardiography (ICG), a non-invasive technique for real-time monitoring.

Methods: Cardiac parameters were measured using ICG in healthy controls, HW, and GD groups at baseline, during intervention, and post-treatment. Statistical analyses involved repeated measures ANOVA with post hoc comparisons, and relative changes (%) quantified hemodynamic improvements.

Results: A significant increase in cardiac index (CI) occurred post-treatment in both HW (+14.71%, p = 0.0102) and GD (+28.53%, p = 0.0336) groups. Cardiac output (CO) exhibited an increasing trend, though without significance (p > 0.05). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) remained stable, although the GD group exhibited an upward trend post decompression (p = 0.1213).

Conclusions: Heartworm extraction and gastric decompression induced measurable cardiovascular improvements, with distinct recovery patterns. Non-invasive monitoring effectively captured cardiovascular changes, suggesting its utility as an adjunctive tool in clinical assessment.