Flujo sanguíneo uterino durante el puerperio canino normal

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe uterine arteries blood flow during normal puerperium in bitches. Twenty healthy, pure-breed, female dogs were evaluated during 80 days of postpartum period. In each evaluation, total horns diameters (TD) and endometrium thickness (E) were measured. Color Doppler was used to localize uterine arteries at both sides of the body and pulsed-wave Doppler was performed to obtain the waveforms. Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV) were measured. Resistance index [RI=(PSV−EDV)/PSV] was automatically calculated. Values of TD, E, PSV, EDV and RI were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA followed by a Tukey test. An analysis of covariance was employed to evaluate the effect of number of puppies on RI. A correlation analysis was also carried out between the RI, the TD and the E. A progressive decrease of the TD (P<0.01) and the E (P<0.01) was found in the course of the study. A gradual diminution in the PSV (P<0.01) and the EDV (P<0.01) and an increase of the RI (P<0.01) were also found throughout the study period. Resistance index negatively correlated with the TD (r=-0.59; P<0.01) and the E (r=-0.58; P<0.01). No effect of the number of puppies on the RI was found (P>0,1). It is concluded that uterine artery blood flow progressively decreased during normal canine puerperium, associated to the two-dimensional ultrasonographic regression of the organ.