Monitoring and treatment of hypovolemic shock in small mammals - Proceedings of SCIVAC, 2007 - Rimini

Although there are several indirect or noninvasive methods (i.e., oscillometric and Doppler) available, it is sometimes impossible to obtain a reading on exotic patients. The Doppler method is more versatile than the oscillometric method, and is the method used by the author for all exotic patients. The ultrasonic Doppler flow detector (Parks Medical Electronics Inc., Aloha, OR) uses ultrasonic waves to detect and make audible blood flow in an artery distal to the blood pressure cuff. The ferret, rabbit or small mammal are placed in lateral recumbency.A pneumatic cuff is placed above the carpus, tarsus or on the tail base in a ferret. Hair is shaved between the carpal/tarsal pad and pads of the feet. The transducer probe crystal is placed on the shaved area (digital branch of the radial artery) in a bed of ultrasonic gel and taped or held in place. The cuff bladder is inflated to a suprasystemic pressure with cut-off of the Doppler signal. The cuff is deflated with the first sound heard and marked as the systolic pressure.