Thermal Imaging as a Method to Indirectly Assess Peripheral Vascular Integrity and Tissue Viability in Veterinary Medicine: Animal Models and Clinical Applications

Simple Summary Infrared thermography can indirectly assess peripheral vascular diseases because skin surface temperature depends on blood flow and heat dissipation through skin microvasculature. The present review aims to summarize and analyze the application of infrared thermography in veterinary medicine as a method to indirectly assess peripheral vascular integrity and its relation to the amount of radiated heat and as a diagnostic technique for tissue viability, degree of damage, and wound care. Although additional research is needed to establish the utility of thermal imaging to monitor vascular integrity in veterinary medicine, studies performed in animals diagnosed with thromboembolisms or thermal impairment due to neuropathies or are in need of burn wound management suggest a promising application of infrared thermography to evaluate peripheral vascular alterations and tissue viability.Abstract Infrared thermography (IRT) is a technique that indirectly assesses peripheral blood circulation and its resulting amount of radiated heat. Due to these properties, thermal imaging is currently applied in human medicine to noninvasively evaluate peripheral vascular disorders such as thrombosis, thromboembolisms, and other ischemic processes. Moreover, tissular damage (e.g., burn injuries) also causes microvasculature compromise. Therefore, thermography can be applied to determine the degree of damage according to the viability of tissues and blood vessels, and it can also be used as a technique to monitor skin transplant procedures such as grafting and free flaps. The present review aims to summarize and analyze the application of IRT in veterinary medicine as a method to indirectly assess peripheral vascular integrity and its relation to the amount of radiated heat and as a diagnostic technique for tissue viability, degree of damage, and wound care.