A doppler ultrasound study on the effect of propranolol on abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava, and portal vein parameters in native short-haired cats

Doppler ultrasound (DUS) is a non-invasive method that provides extensive information about vascular hemodynamics. The hemodynamics of blood vessels can be affected by various factors, including propranolol. Accordingly, this research aimed to investigate the short-term effects of oral propranolol administration on the abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava (IVC), and portal vein in domestic short-haired cats using DUS. To carry out this research, 20 completely healthy cats (10 males and 10 females) were selected for the study. Before and 2 hours after oral propranolol administration (1.00 mg/kg), DUS factors, the peak systolic velocity (PSV), enddiastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and pressure gradient (PG) of the mentioned vessels were measured and compared with each other. After the drug administration, the mean EDV decreased significantly in the portal vein of male cats (P = 0.04). The drug administration was also followed by significant decreases in the diastolic-systolic velocity ratio in the portal vein and RI in the IVC of male cats (P = 0.02). In addition, PI declined significantly in the aorta and portal vein of male cats (P = 0.03 and P = 0.05). The mean PG diminished significantly in the aorta and portal vein of male cats (P = 0.05 and P = 0.007). However, PSV was not statistically significant in different vessels. DUS is a useful tool in the diagnosis and examination of several vascular factors, particularly following changes after the administration of drugs affecting the vessels.