Comparison of Invasive Blood Pressure Measurements from the Caudal Ventral Artery and the Femoral Artery in Male Adult SD and Wistar Rats

Background and PurposeStudies have suggested that the caudal ventral artery is a potential site for continuous arterial blood pressure monitoring in rats. However, the agreement of mean arterial pressure values between the femoral artery and the caudal ventral artery has not been investigated. This study was performed to identify whether the caudal ventral artery could be safely used for continuous blood pressure monitoring as an alternative site to the femoral artery. MethodsRats were randomized into four groups: Sprague Dawley rats under normothermia; Wistar rats under normothermia; Sprague Dawley rats under hypothermia; Wistar rats under hypothermia. Each rat underwent simultaneous monitoring of blood pressure using femoral artery and caudal ventral artery catheterization during a stable hemodynamic state and three periods of acute severe hemodynamic changes. The effects of rat strain, rectal temperature, experimental time course and hemodynamic factors on pressure gradients, the concordance of mean arterial pressure values between the femoral artery and the caudal ventral artery, and the rates of distal ischemia after surgery were determined. ResultsThere was a significant difference in the rate of distal ischemia between femoral and caudal ventral arteries after catheterization (25% vs 5%, P ConclusionsBased on the degree of agreement and the safety of catheterization, the caudal ventral artery may be a preferred site for continuous arterial blood pressure monitoring without acute severe hemodynamic changes.