COLOR DOPPLER IMAGING AND DOPPLER SPECTRAL-ANALYSIS IN THE SPINAL-CORD OF NORMAL DOGS

Doppler ultrasonography of the spinal cord was performed in 34 normal, anesthetized dogs following hemilaminectomy. This study was part of a n investigation to evaluate the efficacy of a 21-aminosteroid compound and high dose methylprednisolone for the treatment of spinal cord tra uma. Grey-scale images of the canine spinal cord were similar to those described for the spinal cord of people. Doppler waveforms of intrapa renchymal spinal arteries exhibited high end diastolic blood now veloc ities, indicating low resistance to flow. Doppler values (mean +/- SD) for arteries immediately ventrolateral to the central canal were: Pea k Systolic Velocity = 5.78 +/- 2.5 cm/sec, Minimum Diastolic Velocity = 3.5 +/- 1.62 cm/sec, Mean Velocity = 4.45 +/- 1.96 cm/sec, Systolic/ Diastolic ratio = 1.69 +/- 0.19, Pulsatility Index = 0.53 +/- 0.09, an d Resistance Index = 0.4 +/- 0.06.