M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic findings in normal ferrets sedated with ketamine hydrochloride and midazolam

M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic values,were obtained from 30 normal ad ult ferrets (14 neutered females, 13 neutered males, 3 intact males) sedate d with an intramuscular combination of ketamine hydrochloride and midazolam , Routine M-mode measurements of the left and right ventricle, left atrium (LA) and aorta (AO) and Doppler measurements of aortic and pulmonic outflow , and mitral inflow were recorded. The following values were calculated: LA :AO diameter, ratio of peak E: peak A wave velocity (E:A ratio) for mitral inflow, and stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI) for both pulmonary and aortic outflow tracts. Maximal aortic velocities (AO (max) and velocity-time integral values (AO VTI) were significantly less th an corresponding pulmonary outflow tract values (PA(max), PA VTI) but there was no difference in calculated values for SV, CO or CI, Calculated CO val ues were in the range expected based on the size of the species, Difficulti es in aligning the aortic outflow tract for Doppler imaging may make pulmon ary outflow Doppler values more consistent for use in estimating volume flo w in ferrets.