An initial application of transesophageal Doppler echocardiography in experimental small animal models

Zhaohui Gao, Jianhua Li, Valerie Kehoe, William R. Davidson, Lawrence Sinoway, Min Pu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined whether an intracardiac echocardiography catheter could be used for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examinations in normal rats, and intraoperative TEE in small animal models of disease. The study used 30 Sprague-Dawley normal rats, 10 rats undergoing coronary artery ligation, and 10 rats with experimentally induced mitral regurgitation. The rats were anesthetized with isoflurane and intubated. An intracardiac echocardiographic catheter was inserted into the esophagus. M-mode, 2-dimensional, and Doppler studies were performed in multiple views. TEE probe insertions were successful in all animals. Intraoperative TEE was safely performed in the rat models of myocardial infarction or mitral regurgitation. Mitral regurgitation was well assessed using color Doppler and pulmonary venous flow. This study demonstrates that TEE (including intraoperative TEE) can be safely performed in rats using an intracardiac echocardiographic catheter. It provides a new approach to the assessment of cardiac function and valvular regurgitation in small animals.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)626-631
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the American Society of Echocardiography
Volume18
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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