TRANSDUCER ORIENTATION FOR DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN DOGS

The orientation of an ultrasound transducer required to provide standard echocardiographic views of the heart valves that would permit optimal alignment with blood flow for pulsed-wave Doppler studies, was investigated in 20 normal dogs. Orientation was defined by the site on the thoracic wall at which the transducer was placed and by the angulation and rotation required to produce a two-dimensional image in which the pulsed-wave Doppler beam could be aligned with flow through each of the four heart valves. Two views, each a relatively short-axis projection at the heart base, from either side of the thorax, gave alignment with the pulmonary artery. Three views gave reliable alignment with the aortic valve, from the cardiac apex on each side of the thorax and subcostally. One view was available for the mitral and tricuspid valves, from the left side of the thorax. Definition of these sites should help clinicians and technicians to develop a systematic routine for Doppler investigations in dogs and facilitate communication between investigators.