Case Studies In Small Animal

Cardiovascular Medicine

Home Up . Radiographs ECG Echo - LV Echo - Ao Doppler Diagnosis

Case 4

Doppler echocardiogram

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This is a continuous wave (CW) Doppler which measures the peak velocity of a high velocity jet. The orientation of the cursor can be seen in the two-dimensional image above the CW image. The transducer has been placed at the left ventricular apex and the CW beam originates there, crosses the left ventricular outflow tract, and passes out the aorta (AO). Blood flow direction is away from the transducer (below the line) and so is oriented normally. Normal blood flow velocity in this region is 1 to 2 meters/second. The velocity in this dog is markedly increased to 5.3 meters/second. This velocity translates into a pressure gradient (difference) across this region of 112 mm Hg (normal pressure gradient is less than 10 mm Hg).

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©Mark D. Kittleson, D.V.M., Ph.D. All rights reserved.