DOI: 10.1590/1809-6891v19e-51005
MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA

DIGITAL CONTRAST VENOGRAPHY IN VIVO OF THE FORELIMB AND HINDLIMB IN HEALTHY SHEEP AND GOAT

VENOGRAFIA DIGITAL CONTRASTADA IN VIVO DE MEMBRO TORÁCICO E PÉLVICO DE OVINOS E CAPRINOS HÍGIDOS

Ivan F. Charas Santos^1*
Carlos Alberto Hussni¹
Carolina Mura Ramos²
Murilo Charlier³
Juliana Alonso¹
Ana Liz Garcia Alves¹
Celso António Rodrigues¹
Marcos Jun Watanabe¹

¹Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
²Universidade Estadual da Região Tocantina do Maranhão, Imperatriz, MA, Brazil.
³Universidade de Uberaba, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
^*Correspondent author - ivansantos7@hotmail.com

Abstract
The venographic examination allows diagnosing and treating foot diseases. It can be the basis of studies about the administration of medication in the hoof region. The aim of the study was to describe the venographic pattern in the distal region of the forelimb and hindlimbs of healthy sheep and goats, as well as to compare vascularization between them. Ten clinically healthy sheep and goats, five male and five female of different breeds, aged 2 to 4 years and weighing 45 to 63 kg were used. The forelimbs and hindlimbs were subjected to contrast venography of the distal region. The venograms were taken in a digital X –ray machine and analyzed in the EcoView® software. The veins of the metacarpus and metatarsus; and the proximal, middle and distal phalanges of the forelimbs and hindlimbs of sheep and goats were identified 25–30 seconds after contrast injection. The technique error observed during the venography was the contrast perivascular extravasation. The venograms showed the vascularization in the distal region of forelimbs and hindlimbs and the communication of vessels between them. The better radiographic view to evaluate the vessels was the lateral projection. The normal venous pattern of the distal region of forelimbs and hindlimbs of sheep and goats could be observed by venography.
Key words: digit, venogram, ruminants, X – ray, limbs.

Resumo
O exame venográfico permite diagnosticar e tratar afecções da região podal. Pode ser base de estudos sobre a administração de medicação na região do casco. O objetivo do estudo foi descrever o padrão venográfico na região distal dos membros torácicos e pélvicos de ovinos e caprinos saudáveis, bem como comparar a vascularização entre eles. Foram utilizados 10 ovinos e caprinos clinicamente saudáveis, cinco machos e cinco fêmeas de raças diferentes, com idade entre 2 a 4 anos e pesando 45 a 63 kg. Os membros torácicos e pélvicos foram submetidos à venografia contrastada da região distal. Os venogramas foram coletados por um aparelho radiográfico digital e analisados no software EcoView®. As veias da região do metacarpo e metatarso; as falanges proximal, medial e distal dos membros torácicos e pélvicos dos ovinos e caprinos foram identificadas 25-30 segundos após a injeção do contraste. O erro de técnica observado durante a venografia foi o extravasamento perivascular do contraste. Os venogramas revelaram a vascularização na região distal dos membros torácicos e pélvicos e a comunicação dos vasos entre eles. A projeção lateral foi a melhor projeção radiográfica para avaliar os vasos no venograma. O padrão venoso normal da região distal dos membros torácicos e pélvicos de ovinos e caprinos pode ser observado pela venografia.
Palavras-chave: dígito, venograma, ruminantes, raios-X, membros.

Received on: January, 6th, 2018.
Accepted on: April, 9th, 2018.

Introduction

Sheep and goats had their origin thousands of years ago, and their migratory route followed the human civilization worldwide⁽¹⁾. These animals have been adapting and it has resulted in different characteristics in their population^(1,2). They represent an important food source for local families in Northeastern Brazil, as well as play an important role in this region’s economy^(3,4).

Angiography has been used in studies concerning to vascular foot diseases in ruminants⁽⁵⁾. This tool can be adopted to treat and to help assessing vascular foot diseases⁽⁵⁾. Sheep and goats are often affected by several foot diseases associated with the breed care and with environmental conditions⁽⁶⁾. Studies regarding contrast venography in vivo and in situ, as well anatomical studies concerning the distal region of the limbs in bovine and equine have been conducted^(7-23). However, further studies using contrast venography in small ruminants still lack in the literature. The present study aimed to describe the venographic vascular pattern in the distal region of the forelimb and hindlimbs of healthy sheep and goats in order to contribute to further anatomical studies, to the clinical medicine and to compare the vascularization between the limbs and species.

Material and Methods

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of our Veterinary School (nº. 065/2011-CEUA). The study was carried out between April 2013 and June 2014. Ten clinically healthy sheep and goats, five male and five female of each species, varied breeds, aged 2 to 4 years (mean age 3 years ± 1 SD) weighing 45 to 63 kg (mean weight 54 kg ± 9 SD) were used. The animals were previously dewormed and fed on balanced food (grains and hay). Five animals belonging to each species were housed in 5 x 4 meter stalls. The study was performed in the winter season, between May and August months. The GPS study location was latitude -22.8989º, and longitude -48.4881º.

All the animals were assumed to be healthy after complete physical and hoof examinations. Exclusion criteria included use of medications or lameness. Blood samples (5 mL) were collected from the jugular vein and a complete blood count (CBC) and serum biochemical analyses (blood urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase) were performed before the venograms.

The venograms were taken at 8 a.m., in a room under controlled temperature (22º C), after 6-hours fasting. The animals’ hooves and digits were washed and trimmed; no iodine antiseptic was scrapped from the hooves. The metacarpal and metatarsal regions were clipped and the skin was aseptically prepared using 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (Rioquimica®, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil). All animals was tranquillized with 0.3 mg/kg (jugular intravenous) of diazepam (Labesfal®, Labesfal, São Paulo, Brazil), and was not used any anesthetic block on the foot.

The sheep and the goats were positioned in lateral recumbency during the venography and the restrain was conducted by two people. Loops were used in the animals’ limbs, except for the limb to be subjected to venography. A rubber tourniquet was tied proximal to the metacarpus and the metatarsus regions. The venopunction was performed using a scalp vein 21G (Embramac®, São Paulo, Brazil) in anterograde direction; and were performed on deep branch of radial vein in medial view in the forelimbs of goats and sheeps⁽²⁴⁾. The dorsal pedis vein was used in the sheep’s hindlimbs, whereas the deep branch of the dorsal metatarsal III vein was used in the goats’ hindlimbs⁽²⁴⁾.

The radiographic images were acquired through digital radiography machine (100 kVp/45 mAs) (Vatech®, Gnatus, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil) and the radiographic exposure settings were conducted using a beam energy of 60 kVp/5 mAs, and 70 cm film focus distance. The distal region of the forelimbs and hindlimbs were centered over a digital X-ray cassette.

The X-rays were performed 25 to 30 seconds after the administration of 10 mL of diatrizoate meglumine (Reliev®, Justesa Image of Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil), according to Santos⁽²⁴⁾, using a 10 mL hand-held leur-lock syringe attached to the distal end of the scalp tubing. The contrast agent was slowly administered in constant speed. The scalp was removed from the vein immediately after the contrast was administered. The X-rays were performed in lateral, dorsopalmar, dorsoplantar, plantodorsal and palmorodorsal projections. The venograms were performed with 2-week intervals for each limb. The animals that observed hematoma at the site of venopunction were excluded from the study for 3-weeks. The venograms which showed full contrast-filled of the distal veins of the metacarpus and metatarsus, and the proximal, middle and distal phalanges were analyzed using the EcoView® software. The veins were identified according to Popesko⁽²⁵⁾, Schummer⁽²⁶⁾ and Schaller⁽²⁷⁾.

Results

The veins of the metacarpus and metatarsus; and the proximal, middle and distal phalanges of the forelimbs and hindlimbs of sheep and goats were fill-in with contrast in 25–30 seconds after contrast injection. The contrast agent remained in the veins for 30-35 seconds.

All animals showed limb retraction at the time of contrast injection. Hematoma was observed in 20% (2/10) of the sheep´s limbs and in 10% (1/10) of the goats’ limbs. No wound breakdown or infection was observed in them.

The technique error observed during the venography was contrast perivascular extravasation (Figure 1). The venography of the distal region of the sheep and goats’ forelimbs are shown in figures 2 and 3; and the venography from the distal region of the sheep and goats’ hindlimbs are shown in figures 4 and 5.

There was a contrast fill-in variation between the veins of the forelimb and hindlimbs of sheeps and goats. The vena digitalis palmaris propria III derived from the vena mediana. The vena digitalis palmaris communis II and the vena digitalis palmaris communis IV derived from the vena radialis to arcus and the ramus palmaris profundus.

Veins from the distal region of the hindlimbs derived from two main veins, namely: vena metatarsea dorsalis III and vena plantaris medialis. Therefore, the vessels in dorsoplantar view derived from the vena dorsalis pedis and the vena tibialis cranialis. Vena digitalis plantaris communis IV, vena plantaris communis II and vena plantaris communis III derived from the vena plantaris lateralis.

Two veins were observed in lateral view from the dorsal region of the metatarsus and proximal phalanx, namely: ramus distalis vena plantaris lateralis and ramus perforans distalis vena metatarsea dorsalis III. These veins were not observed in the same view in the forelimbs.

There was no difference in number of veins between male and female animals, as well between their right and left forelimbs and hindlimbs.

Discussion

Normal venographic assessment of the vascularization in the distal region of the forelimbs and hindlimbs of sheep and goats can help understanding locomotor disorders and etiology of digital circulatory problems such as the healing of the digit area, sole abscess, sole bruising, foot trauma and lacerations⁽²⁸⁾.

Studies regarding cattle lameness diseases are found in the literature^{(8-10, 29, 30)}, but documented studies on small ruminant lameness still lack. As long as the authors are aware of, unlike horses ^(13-22) and cattle ^{(9-11, 23, 31, 32}), there are no reports concerning studies in vivo on the normal vascular pattern of the fore and hindlimb’s digit and hoof in small ruminants. However, studies regarding to arteriography in vivo and in situ in goats ^(5,28) and venography in situ in sheep ⁽³³⁾ were conducted. Similar studies involving cattle are expensive; thus, sheep can be used as ruminant model ^{(5, 28, 30)}. Therefore, they become an economic alternative due to the foot vascular pattern similarity between small ruminants and cattle.

Nazhvani et al.⁽²⁸⁾ have described a goat-hind digit angiography applied to sedated live animals as research model for Fescue toxicity in large-animal lameness studies. The present study raised anatomic references for regional intravenous anesthesia and antibiotic perfusion in small ruminants. The veins in the distal region of the sheep’s forelimbs and hindlimbs were described by Popesko⁽²⁵⁾, Schummer⁽²⁶⁾ through schematic drawings; however, different from the present study, the small and medium veins were not mentioned by him.

Burns & Cornell⁽⁵⁾, Nazhvani et al.⁽²⁸⁾ used a conventional X-ray machine to describe the normal arteriographic pattern in vivo of goats’ hindlimbs and sheep’s forelimbs and hindlimbs. A digital X-ray machine was used in the current study which increased the image quality.

Santos et al.⁽²⁴⁾ have found no difference between the number of veins in male and female animals, as well as between the right and left limbs in sheep and goats. However, the hindlimbs showed a higher number of veins than the forelimbs in both species. On the other hand, these authors described differences between the number of veins in sheep and goats’ limbs, and these results corroborated the ones in the present study. Santos et al.⁽²⁴⁾ postulated that the distal vascularization in the forelimbs and hindlimbs between sheep and goats are somehow similar, and that the higher number of veins in the hindlimbs can be explained by the efficient vascular anastomoses applied to them. Therefore, it was worth assessing all the views because the high probability to observe all veins, different from the literature that mentions the use of only two views - lateral and dorsopalmar^{(28, 34)}.

The limbs’ retraction during contrast injection observed in the present study was associated to heating sensation and low pH of the contrast^{(17, 20-22, 24)}. The venous distention referred to such retraction resulted in hematoma⁽¹⁷⁾. This retraction could be avoided through anesthetic block, but the aim of the current study was to conduct the venography without increasing the cost of the procedure. The animals which developed hematoma were excluded from the study for 15 days and no adverse reaction or infection was observed.

The venographic technique error observed during the venography was the same reported by Santos et al.⁽²⁴⁾. Santos et al.⁽²⁴⁾ observed contrast perivascular extravasation in 20% of the forelimbs and in 15% of the hindlimbs of sheep, as well 15% in forelimbs and 10% in hindlimbs of goats. Redden⁽¹⁸⁾, Santos et al.⁽²⁴⁾, McEvoy et al.⁽³⁴⁾, Ramos et al.⁽³⁵⁾, considered the perivascular contrast extravasation as the most common technique error during venography in horses and small ruminants.

Conclusion

According to the present methodology, it is possible identifying the normal venous pattern in the distal region of forelimbs and hindlimbs of sheep and goats, as well as the communication between the veins in all dimensions and directions of the limbs.

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES – Brazil) for PhD scholarship of Ivan Felismino Charas dos Santos; and Giovanna Cristina Brombini for help during the venograms.

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