Comparison between the Parks Medical Doppler and the Mano Médical Vet BP Doppler for recording indirect systemic blood pressure in conscious dogs

Abstract

Background: The acquisition of systemic blood pressure (SBP) provides valuable information regarding cardiovascular function and tissue perfusion in human and veterinary species.
Aim: To evaluate the agreement between Parks Medical Doppler (PMD) and Mano Médical Vet BP (MMVBP) Doppler for assessing SBP in conscious dogs.
Methods: 40 client-owned dogs were prospectively enrolled; SBP measurements were acquired by a single operator using the PMD and then the MMVBP. The mean of five consecutive measurements for each device was classified according to target organ damage (TOD) risk scores (1: <140 mmHg; 2: 140–160 mmHg; 3: 160–180 mmHg; 4: ≥ 180 mmHg).
Results: Total mean SBP for the devices was not statistically different (p = 0.77). However, the Bland–Altman analysis revealed wide limits of agreement (LoA), with MMVBP slightly underestimating SBP compared to PMD (bias = −0.6 mmHg, 95% LoA: −26.3 to 25.09). Both devices correlated well (r = 0.8269; p < 0.0001) and had identically acceptable intra-observer repeatability (coefficients of variation = 4.09% for MMVBP and 3.86% for PMD). Four dogs (10%) had a TOD score of 3 by one device but scored <3 with the other.
Conclusion: A good agreement and correlation was observed between the PMD and the MMVBP, suggesting that both devices can be used interchangeably for assessment of SBP in conscious dogs. The wide LoA observed between both devices was most likely associated with intraindividual variability in SBP over time.