BIPLANE TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN THE DOG - TECHNIQUE, ANATOMY AND IMAGING PLANES

To determine the feasibility of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in dogs, biplane TEE was performed in 6 normal, anesthetized dogs, us ing a 10 mm x 110 cm endoscopic TEE transducer, Positioning was confir med by fluoroscopy, and imaging planes were confirmed by necropsy exam ination. A transgastric position provided only a limited view of the l eft ventricular apex, Three TEE positions over the base of the heart w ere identified, A caudal position provided excellent images in both tr ansverse and longitudinal planes, but alignment with flow for Doppler examination was poor, A middle position provided long axis views of th e left ventricular inflow region and mitral valve suitable for Doppler examination, A cranial position provided excellent views for both ana tomic and Doppler examination of right and left ventricular outflow an d associated great vessels. We conclude that biplane TEE provides uniq ue views of the heart in dogs which are complementary to, and often su perior to, transthoracic views for evaluation of structures at the hea rt base.