This study investigated whether a small volume of 7.2% hypertonic saline solution (HSS) could affect M-mode echocardiographic indices in dogs. HSS induced significant increase in heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac index, when the fluid infusion was completed (P<0.05). In the HSS group, the left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, as an index of preload, significantly increased (P<0.05), whereas left ventricular end-systolic volume index were not altered. HSS induced slight increases in

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... ection fraction at end of infusion despite significantly differences were not observed. In conclusion, HSS did not induce a demonstrable effect on M-mode echocardiographic indices of systolic functionenhance cardiac contractility, but it caused preload augmentation that may contribute to an abrupt and transient increase in cardiac output just after HSS infusion. KEY WORDS: canine, cardioechography, hypertonic saline solution.