Effects of intravenous administration of pimobendan on hemodynamic indices and indices of left atrial longitudinal strain derived from speckle-tracking echocardiography in healthy dogs.

Objective: To determine the effects of IV administration of pimobendan on hemodynamic indices and indices of left atrial (LA) longitudinal strain by speckle-tracking echocardiography in healthy dogs.

Animals: 6 healthy Beagles.

Procedures: After the dogs were anesthetized, the right heart was catheterized and 2-D conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography were performed before and after IV administration of 0.15 mg of pimobendan/kg. Speckle-tracking echocardiography was performed to assess the 3 LA phasic functions through LA deformation (longitudinal strain and strain rate) and volumetric analyses.

Results: Pimobendan significantly increased stroke volume and cardiac output and decreased systemic vascular resistance. Pimobendan significantly improved left ventricular function assessed by the Tei index and LA booster pump function assessed by LA longitudinal strain and change in fractional volume during atrial systole. Indices of LA reservoir and conduit function were unchanged.

Conclusions And Clinical Relevance: In healthy dogs, IV administration of pimobendan improved the indices of LA booster pump function but had no effect on the indices of LA reservoir and conduit functions. Further studies are needed to validate whether these results can be extrapolated to dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.