Case Studies In Small Animal

Cardiovascular Medicine

Case 6

Intracardiac Pressures

The catheter was passed into the aorta from the pulmonary artery and pressures were recorded as the catheter was withdrawn from the aorta, through the unidentified structure, into the pulmonary artery, and then into the right ventricle. As can be seen below, systolic pressure was equal in all of these structures. Systolic and diastolic pressures were equal in the aorta, in the pulmonary artery, and in the "structure". The right ventricular systolic pressure was the same as in the aorta, the pulmonary artery, and the structure. The right ventricular diastolic pressure was mildly increased to about 7 mm Hg (normal is 5 mmHg or less.

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