RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS OF THE 28th ECVIM-CA CONGRESS

Left atrial size (LAS) is an important prognostic indicator in canine cardiac diseases. A widely used, unidimensional, echocardiographic method to estimate LAS is the left atrial to‐aortic‐root ratio (LA:Ao) using a short axis plane at the level of the root of the aorta. However, observer‐dependant variability of this ratio has been reported, and measurements may vary considerably even among highly trained cardiologists. In humans, ECG‐gated cross‐sectional imaging modalities, such as multi‐detector computed tomography angiography (MCTA) are used as reference methods for measuring LAS. MCTA limits cut‐plane variability and should therefore provide a more accurate and reproducible evaluation of left atrial morphology and borders compared to echocardiography in dogs.