Transesophageal Echocardiography Examination in Ailuropoda melanoleuca.

Objective: Cardiac function analysis for Ailuropoda melanoleuca, also called giant panda, with transthoracic echocardiography has several limitations, such as limited probe position area and poor echo window. We want to determine the feasibility of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for cardiac examination in Ailuropoda melanoleuca.

Methods: Eight-year-old male Ailuropoda melanoleuca was anesthetized by intramuscular ketamine and followed by inhalation isofl urane with spontaneous respiration.