Measurement of Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Rats Using Right Heart Catheterization

Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) measured by right heart catheterization is considered the gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary hypertension. Rats have been used to establish models of pulmonary hypertension. However, when the beginners perform right heart catheterization to measure PAP in rat models of pulmonary hypertension, the catheter often inadvertently enters the inferior vena cava or becomes lodged in the right ventricle without reaching the pulmonary artery, leading to prolonged catheterization, which decreases heart rate in rats and provides distorted pressure readings. Furthermore, there is a risk of puncturing the right atrium, causing the experiment to fail. This study aims to share the experience of our laboratory in measuring PAP using right heart catheterization through a video presentation. We enumerate the surgical steps involved in right heart catheterization, as well as the tools required for the surgery. We improved the selection of catheters based on the properties of the catheter materials and described the method of catheter preparation. We also explained the process of inserting the catheter into the pulmonary artery and the determination of the catheter's position. We believe that this protocol will be helpful for beginners in measuring pulmonary artery pressure.