Determining the Normal Diameter of Cystic and Common Bile Ducts in Adult German Shepherd Dogs by Ultrasonography Method

Subject Areas : Radiology and Ultrasound

Samin Ziadlou ¹ , Siamak Alizadeh ^{2 *} , Mohammadreza Hosseinchi ³

1 - Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran
2 - Department of Veterinary Medicine, Naghadeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Naghadeh, Iran
3 - Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran

Received: 2024-02-04 Accepted : 2024-07-22 Published : 2025-05-05

Keywords: Common bile duct, Cystic duct, German Shepherd dog, Ultrasonography,

Abstract :

The current study aimed to evaluate the normal diameter of the cystic and common bile ducts in adult German Shepherd dogs using ultrasonography, with a 95% confidence level, to aid in interpreting results and making clinical decisions. This cross-sectional descriptive study involved 12 adult German Shepherd dogs (6 males and 6 females) with an average weight of 24.37 ± 3.65 kg and a mean age of 2.40 ± 0.495 years. Ultrasonography was performed with the dogs positioned in dorsoventral, left lateral, and right lateral recumbency during the inspiratory phase of breathing. Anatomical studies were conducted following anesthesia and during surgery for each dog. According to the ultrasonography results, the mean diameter of the cystic duct at the level of the gallbladder was 4.17 ± 0.58 mm, while the mean diameters of the common bile duct at the hepatis porta and major duodenal papilla levels were 3.23 ± 0.48 mm and 3.14 ± 0.63 mm, respectively. The diameter of the cystic duct at the gallbladder level was greater in males than in females, whereas the mean diameter of the common bile duct at the hepatis porta and major duodenal papilla levels was larger in females than in males; however, these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The precise standards obtained in this study can be utilized to interpret findings and make clinical decisions regarding the normal and abnormal diameters of the cystic and common bile ducts in adult German Shepherd dogs. 

References:

[1] Neer TM. A review of disorders of the gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract in the dog and cat. J Vet Int Med. 1992; 6(3): 186-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1992.tb00335.x.
[2] Bruyette D. Clinical Small Animal Internal Medicine: John Wiley & Sons. 2020. doi: 10.1002/9781119501237.ch9.
[3] Malik MY, Jaiswal S, Sharma A, Shukla M, Lal J. Role of enterohepatic recirculation in drug disposition: cooperation and complications. Drug metabolism reviews. 2016; 48(2): 281-327. doi: 10.3109/03602532.2016.1157600.
[4] Flanagan J, Bissot T, Hours MA, Moreno B, Feugier A, German AJ. Success of a weight loss plan for overweight dogs: The results of an international weight loss study. PLoS One. 2017; 12(9): e0184199. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184199.
[5] Morelli G, Bastianello S, Catellani P, Ricci R. Raw meat-based diets for dogs: survey of owners’ motivations, attitudes and practices. BMC Vete Res. 2019; 15: 1-10. doi: 10.1186/s12917-019-1824-x.
[6] Scott JP, Fuller JL. Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog. University of Chicago Press. 2012.
[7] Zeman R, Taylor K, Rosenfield A, Schwartz A, Gold J. Acute experimental biliary obstruction in the dog: sonographic findings and clinical implications. American J Roentgenology. 2020; 136(5): 965-7. doi: 10.2214/ajr.136.5.965.
[8] Park HY, Cho YG, Lee YW, Choi HJ. Evaluation of gallbladder and common bile duct size and appearance by computed tomography in dogs. J Vet Sci. 2018; 19(5): 653-9. doi: 10.4142/jvs.2018.19.5.653.
[9] Koh R. Improve Seizure Control with Integrative Medicine World Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress Proceedings. 2018.
[10] Rahmani V, Spillmann T, Halttunen J, Syrjä P, Ruohoniemi M. Diagnostic value of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and therapeutic value of endoscopic sphincterotomy in dogs with suspected hepatobiliary disorders. BMC Vet Res. 2022; 18(1): 1-15. doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03241-4.
[11] Meomartino L, Greco A, Di Giancamillo M, Brunetti A, Gnudi G. Imaging techniques in Veterinary Medicine. Part I: Radiography and Ultrasonography. European J Radiology Open. 2021; 8:100382.
[12] Köster L, Shell L, Illanes O, Lathroum C, Neuville K, Ketzis J. Percutaneous ultrasound‐guided cholecystocentesis and bile analysis for the detection of Platynosomum spp.‐induced cholangitis in cats. J Vet Int Med. 2016; 30(3): 787-93.
[13] Assawarachan SN, Chuchalermporn P, Maneesaay P, Thengchaisri N. Evaluation of hepatobiliary ultrasound scores in healthy dogs and dogs with liver diseases. Vet World. 2019; 12(8): 1266. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2019.1266-1272.
[14] Väätäjä HK, Pesonen EK. Ethical issues and guidelines when conducting HCI studies with animals. CHI'13 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2013; 2159-68.
[15] Berent A, Weisse C, Schattner M, Gerdes H, Chapman P, Kochman M. Initial experience with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting for treatment of extrahepatic bile duct obstruction in dogs. J American Vet Med Ass. 2015 ;246(4): 436-46. doi: 10.2460/javma.246.4.436.
[16] Yoo ES, Yoo BM, Kim JH, Hwang JC, Yang MJ, Lee KM. Evaluation of risk factors for recurrent primary common bile duct stone in patients with cholecystectomy. Scandinavian J gastroenterology. 2018; 53(4): 466-70.
[17] Kanai H, Minamoto T, Nukaya A, Kondo M, Aso T, Fujii A. Intraoperative cholangiography and bile duct flushing in 47 dogs receiving laparoscopic cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease: A retrospective analysis. Vet Surgery. 2022; 51: O150-O9. doi: 10.1111/vsu.13731.
[18] Lee SS, Song TJ, Joo M, Park DH, Seo DW, Lee SK. Histological changes in the bile duct after long-term placement of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent within a common bile duct: a canine study. Clinical Endoscopy. 2014; 47(1): 84-93. doi: 10.5946/ce.2014.47.1.84.
[19] Mattolini M, Citi S, Gianni B, Carozzi G, Caleri E, Puccinelli C. CT features of divisional bile ducts in healthy Labrador Retrievers. Vet Radiology & Ultrasound. 2023. doi: 10.1111/vru.13222.
[20] Hill FI, Speelman J, Hui K, Nekouei O, Beczkowski P, Barrs V. High frequency of cholecystitis in dogs with gallbladder mucocoele in Hong Kong. Vet J. 2022; 287: 105881. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.4017418.
[21] Marvel S, Monnet, E. Use of a vessel sealant device for cystic duct ligation in the dog. Vet Surgery. 2014; 43(8): 983-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12274.x.