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Transthoracic Echocardiographic Examination in the Rabbit Model
Published on: June 1, 2019
Doppler echocardiographic assessment of left atrial appendage flow velocities in normal cats
Karsten E Schober1, Imke Maerz
1The Ohio State University, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, 601 Vernon L. Tharp Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Insights
Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography can successfully measure left atrial appendage (LAA) flow in normal cats. This provides a baseline for understanding LAA flow patterns in feline cardiac disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Feline Medicine
Background:
- Left atrial enlargement and dysfunction in feline cardiomyopathy can lead to blood stasis.
- This stasis increases thromboembolic risk, indicated by spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and decreased LAA flow.
- Baseline LAA flow patterns in healthy cats are not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate left atrial appendage (LAA) flow velocity patterns using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) in normal cats.
- To establish normal LAA flow parameters for comparison with feline cardiac disease states.
Main Methods:
- TTDE was performed on 47 healthy cats.
- LAA flow velocities were measured and analyzed.
- The influence of age, body weight, sex, heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac dimensions on LAA flow was assessed.
Main Results:
- Adequate LAA flow signals were obtained in 92% of cats.
- Polyphasic flow profiles (two, three, or four waves) were consistently observed.
- Maximum LAA flow velocity averaged 0.47 m/s, with a weak correlation to LA size.
Conclusions:
- TTDE is a viable method for assessing LAA flow in cats.
- This study establishes normal LAA flow velocity ranges and patterns.
- Findings provide a reference for identifying abnormalities in cats with cardiac disease.
Objectives:
The use of transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) to evaluate the patterns and technique of measuring of left atrial appendage (LAA) flow velocities in normal cats.
Background:
Left atrial enlargement and dysfunction are characteristic features of feline cardiomyopathy that may cause blood stasis in the left atrium (LA). This low flow state may be associated with hypercoagulability and thrombus formation. Left atrial enlargement, spontaneous echocardiographic contrast, and decreased velocity of LAA flow may be early indicators of thromboembolic risk. Little is known about the patterns and determination of LAA flow in normal cats.
Animals, Materials And Methods:
Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography was used to evaluate LAA flow in 47 normal cats and to assess the effects of age, body weight, sex, heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and echocardiographic indices of LA and LV size and function on LAA flow variables.
Results:
Adequate LAA flow signals could be recorded in 43 (92%) cats. Polyphasic LAA flow profiles were obtained in all cats, consisting of two (79%), three (16%), or four (5%) flow waves. Maximum LAA flow velocity (mean+/-SD) was 0.47+/-0.20m/s (range 0.24-1.00) and average LAA flow velocity was 0.42+/-0.17m/s (0.22-0.93). There was a weak correlation between LAA flow velocity and LA size based on maximum LA diameter (r=0.36, p=0.018) and maximum LA area (r=0.44, p=0.004). There was no association between LAA flow velocity and any other independent variable evaluated.
Conclusion:
LAA flow may be recorded by use of TTDE in cats. The results of this study can be used for comparison with LAA flow patterns found in disease states.
