Veterinary echocardiographers' preferences for left atrial (LA) size assessment in dogs have never been systematically investigated. The primary aim of this international survey study was to investigate echocardiographers' preferences for LA size assessment in dogs. The 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 the veterinary echocardiographers. A total of 670 echocardiographers from 54 countries on six continents completed the survey. Most echocardiographers (n = 621) used linear two-dimensional (2D)-based methods to assess LA size, 379 used subjective assessment, and 151 used M-mode-based methods. Most commonly, echocardiographers combined linear 2D-based methods with subjective assessment (n = 222), whereas 191 used linear 2D-based methods alone. Most echocardiographers (n = 436) using linear 2D-based methods preferred the right parasternal short-axis view and indexed the LA to the aorta. Approximately 30% (n = 191) of the echocardiographers who performed linear measurements from 2D echocardiograms shared the same preferences regarding dog position, acquisition view, indexing method, and identification of the time-point used for the measurement. The responses were comparably homogeneous across geographic location, training level, years of performing echocardiography, and type of practice. Most veterinary echocardiographers assessed LA size in dogs using linear 2D echocardiography from a right parasternal short-axis view, and by indexing the LA to the aorta. The respondents' preferences were similar across geographic, demographic, and professional backgrounds.

中文翻译：

---

兽医超声心动图医师对犬左心房大小评估的偏好：BENEFIT 项目

兽医超声心动图医师对狗左心房 (LA) 大小评估的偏好从未被系统地调查过。这项国际调查研究的主要目的是调查超声心动图医师对狗左心室大小评估的偏好。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。来自六大洲 54 个国家的总共 670 名超声心动图医师完成了这项调查。大多数超声心动图医师 (n = 621) 使用基于线性二维 (2D) 的方法来评估 LA 大小，379 名使用主观评估，151 名使用基于 M 模式的方法。最常见的是，超声心动图医师将基于线性 2D 的方法与主观评估相结合 (n = 222)，而 191 人仅使用基于线性 2D 的方法。大多数使用基于线性 2D 方法的超声心动图医师 (n = 436) 更喜欢右侧胸骨旁短轴视图并将 LA 索引至主动脉。从 2D 超声心动图进行线性测量的超声心动图技师中，大约 30% (n = 191) 在狗位置、采集视图、索引方法和用于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、进行超声心动图检查的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右侧胸骨旁短轴视图的线性 2D 超声心动图并通过将 LA 索引到主动脉来评估狗的 LA 大小。不同地理、人口和专业背景的受访者的偏好相似。