title: An initial application of transesophageal Doppler echocardiography in experimental small animal models.
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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Zhaohui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kehoe
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sinoway
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000662:veterinary; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000662:veterinary; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley