Case Studies In Small Animal

Cardiovascular Medicine

Home Up . Radiographs 2D Echo Color Flow Contrast Echo Doppler Diagnosis

Case 7

Contrast Echocardiogram

contrastecho.jpg (23088 bytes)

This right parasternal echocardiogram was taken immediately after agitated saline was injected into a peripheral vein. Air bubbles make very good ultrasound targets since ultrasound reflects back from them very well. Consequently, one can see the microbubbles as they traverse the heart. In a normal animal, the microbubbles are observed in the right heart but not in the left heart since the pulmonary capillaries filter them out so they never reach the left side. In this dog, the bubbles can be seen as white dots and lines in the right atrium (RA). They can also be seen within the defect in the atrial septum, and in the left atrium (LA).

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