Echocardiographic study of the anesthetized cat.

Echocardiographic parameters were recorded, measured and statistically analyzed on a population of normal cats under pentobarbital anesthesia. Results of the study are similar to those obtained by previous investigators. However, this investigation demonstrates the depressant effect of pentobarbital anesthesia on cardiac contractility and the percent change in the left ventricular minor diameter. Analysis by correlation indices shows a positive relationship between the left ventricular diastolic and systolic dimensions, the left ventricular diastolic dimension and the E to F slope of the anterior mitral valve, the left ventricular systolic dimension and the E to F slope, the percent change in left ventricular minor diameter and the velocity of circumferential fibre shortening of the left ventricle and the left atrial dimension and body weight. A negative correlation exists between the left ventricular dimension at systole and the percent change in minor diameter of the left ventricle and the velocity of circumferential fibre shortening.