Echocardiographic variables in healthy guineapigs anaesthetized with ketamine-xylazine.

Echocardiographic parameters were recorded, measured and statistically analysed on a population of 12 male Hartley albino guineapigs under ketamine-xylazine anaesthesia. Additionally, the effect of body weight on these parameters and the correlation between the parameters were assessed. The mean values of left ventricular internal diameter in end diastole (LVIDD), left ventricular internal diameter in end systole (LVIDS), interventricular septum thickness in diastole (IVSD), interventricular septum thickness in systole (IVSS), left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole (LVPWD), left ventricular posterior wall thickness in systole (LVPWS), left atrial diameter (LA), aortic diameter (AO), left ventricular fractional shortening (FS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) were measured or calculated as 6.85+/-0.36, 4.35+/-0.17, 1.75+/-0.31, 2.26+/-0.35, 2.28+/-0.40, 2.80+/-0.58, 4.95+/-0.34, 4.65+/-0.25 mm, 35.62+/-2.62 and 70.87+/-3.01%, respectively. A significant (P<0.01) positive correlation to body weight was found with LVIDD, LVPWD, IVSD, aortic root diameter and LA. Significant correlation was also found between a number of echocardiographic parameters.