Veterinary echocardiographers' preferences for left atrial (LA) size assessment in cats have not been systematically investigated. The primary aim of this prospective exploratory study was to investigate echocardiographers' preferences concerning LA size assessment in cats. A secondary aim was to investigate echocardiographers' preferences for assessing LA size in subgroups based on geographic, demographic, and professional profiles. An online survey instrument was designed, verified, and distributed globally to veterinary echocardiographers. A total of 655 veterinary echocardiographers from six continents and 54 countries, working in specialty practice (56%) and in general practice (38%), provided data. Linear two-dimensional (2D) technique was favored by most echocardiographers (n = 612) for LA size assessment. Most commonly, respondents combined linear 2D with subjective assessment (n = 227), while 209 used linear 2D-based methods alone. Most echocardiographers using linear 2D-based methods preferred the right parasternal short-axis view and to index the LA to the aorta (Ao). Approximately 10% of the respondents obtained LA dimensions from a right parasternal long-axis four-chamber view. Approximately one-third of echocardiographers that made linear measurements from 2D echocardiograms shared the same preferences regarding cat position, acquisition view, indexing method and time point identification for the LA measurement. The responses were comparably homogeneous across geographic location, level of training, years performing echocardiography, and type of practice. Most veterinary echocardiographers assessed LA size in cats using linear 2D echocardiography from a right parasternal short-axis view, and indexed LA to Ao. Respondents' preferences were similar over geographic, demographic, and professional backgrounds.

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兽医超声心动图医师对猫左心房大小评估的偏好：BENEFIT 项目

兽医超声心动图医师对猫左心房 (LA) 大小评估的偏好尚未进行系统调查。这项前瞻性探索性研究的主要目的是调查超声心动图医师对猫 LA 大小评估的偏好。第二个目的是调查超声心动图医师根据地理、人口和专业概况评估亚组 LA 大小的偏好。设计、验证了在线调查工具，并将其分发给全球兽医超声心动图医师。共有来自六大洲 54 个国家的 655 名兽医超声心动图医师提供了数据，他们分别从事专业实践 (56%) 和全科实践 (38%)。大多数超声心动图医师 (n = 612) 青睐线性二维 (2D) 技术来评估 LA 大小。最常见的是，受访者将线性 2D 与主观评估结合起来 (n = 227)，而 209 名受访者单独使用基于线性 2D 的方法。大多数使用基于线性 2D 方法的超声心动图医师更喜欢右侧胸骨旁短轴视图并将 LA 索引至主动脉 (Ao)。大约 10% 的受访者从右侧胸骨旁长轴四腔切面获得 LA 尺寸。从 2D 超声心动图进行线性测量的超声心动图技师中，大约三分之一在猫的位置、采集视图、索引方法和 LA 测量的时间点识别方面具有相同的偏好。不同地理位置、培训水平、超声心动图检查年限和实践类型的反应相对一致。大多数兽医超声心动图医师使用线性 2D 超声心动图从右侧胸骨旁短轴视图评估猫的 LA 大小，并将 LA 索引为 Ao。受访者的偏好在地理、人口和专业背景方面相似。