Pulsed wave Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of intracardiac blood flow in normal sheep

The blood flow velocities and flow patterns were evaluated in normal sheep across the four cardiac valves using pulsed wave spectral Doppler echocardiography. Merino ewes (n = 20) aged between 16 and 61 months with bodyweights ranging between 51 to 72 kg were evaluated. The sheep were fully conscious and required no sedation. The mean peak velocities for the left atrioventricular, right atrioventricular, aortic and pulmonary valves were 68.4, 51.9, 99.1 and 92.7 cm s-1, respectively. Additionally the wave forms were described and mean velocities and a variety of flow variables determined for each of these flow areas. The mean left atrioventricular valve E:A ratio was under 1 which differs from humans and dogs. Aortic and pulmonary flow variables were compared to each other.