Method for determining cardiac output by thermodilution without injection

摘要

Heat is removed from the blood flow by heat exchange rather than cold-liquid injection; resulting temperature changes are monitored. Flow rate is found from monitored temperature and known parameters related to the amount of heat removed. Preferably heat is removed by pumping cold liquid into a sealed balloon or sheath along a catheter, which is in the blood stream. The balloon acts as a heat exchanger; its design optimises that function. Temperature can be monitored by a thermistor or other sensor closer to the tip of the same catheter. Alternatively it appears possible to use blood-temperature measurements taken just outside the balloon, or even within the balloon, if the system is calibrated to account for the relation between the blood flow rate and the heat lost from balloon to blood. Heat removal can be either quasi steady-state or cyclical: that is, either heat is removed semicontinuously by a low-temperature-differential exposure and resulting steady-state temperatures observed semicontinuously; or heat is removed periodically in brief high-differential exposures, and temperature changes tracked in defined time periods during or after each exposure. In the latter case, a patient's heat balance can be maintained by alternately adding heat in protracted low-differential exposures.