Characterization of a multispectral visible imaging system for monitoring perfusion changes in dogs under anesthesia

Compact multispectral imaging systems can provide fast analysis of tissue properties, such as perfusion, that are useful parameters for clinicians to inform individualized care. Some sedative drugs used in both human and veterinary medicine have been found to induce changes in perfusion in small animals such as cats. The use of these drugs on veterinary patients must be carefully considered in the case of wound care or procedures such as axial pattern flaps as inhibited wound perfusion may inhibit successful treatment. In this preliminary study, we built a multispectral illumination module that consisted of a white light source and filter wheel to supplement a commercial laser speckle contrast system. A color camera of the laser speckle system was used for multispectral image acquisition. The system was used to obtain visible-light reflectance measurements of the skin of anesthesized healthy dogs undergoing routine dental cleaning. The goal of this study was to determine if multispectral data detects changes in skin reflectance as the dog was placed under anaesthesia. The changes observed may be related to changes in superficial skin perfusion as the patient receives sedation.