Proximal isovelocity surface area variability during systole in dogs with mitral valve prolapse.

The proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) principles and methodology have been described in human and veterinary medicine with special emphasis given to the ease and speed for the quantification of mitral regurgitation. Although limitations have been described in both human and veterinary medicine, in the case of veterinary medicine, clinical examples have not been well defined and in some cases have not been individually presented. The objective of this paper is to illustrate in a qualitative manner the echocardiographic existence of the dynamic behavior and variability of mitral regurgitation in dogs with mitral valve prolapse, a factor to be taken into consideration as a limitation inherent to the PISA technique.