Left Ventricular Volume Determinations of Canine Models

Abstract

Current techniques of left ventricular performance assessment involve angiographic determinations of ventricular volumes. Echocardiography offers an alternative non-invasive means of determining these volumes. However, current one dimensional techniques, ie.time-motion (T-M) methods, are inherently limited in accuracy because of uncertainties in determining the orientation of the interrogating ultrasonic beam in relation to the spatial geometries of the ventricle. The high resolution, real time, two-dimensional ultrasound imaging system, known as Thaumascan, was utilized in determining left ventricular volumes of canine models in vitro to ascertain this system’s capabilities in volumetric determinations.