TWO‐DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN THE NORMAL CAT

Abstract

Two‐dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and M‐mode echocardiography were used to image the heart of 13 clinically healthy cats. Seven awake cats and six cats tranquilized with a combination of acetylpromazine and ketamine were studied. Six cats were studied by 2DE on 3 consecutive days to assess repeatability of the study. Long‐axis and short‐axis echocardiographic tomograms were obtained from the right parasternal location, and these images were used to determine internal cardiac dimensions, ventricular and septal wall thicknesses, repeatability of the study, and interobserver variability. Some but not all parameters were significantly (P< 0.05) related to body weight. Significant correlations (P <0.05) were found between measurements obtained by long‐axis and by short‐axis image planes. Comparison of parameters measured by 2DE and M‐mode echocardiography demonstrated minimal differences between mean values. Repeatability of the 2DE study was good with 14 of 16 parameters having a mean percent error less than 10%. Interobserver variability was acceptable for some but not all parameters. The study indicates that repeatable 2DE tomograms can be obtained in the cat and that quantitation of cardiac anatomy is possible with this imaging technique.