Correlation of esophageal conductance measurements with aortic and left ventricular diameters and stroke volume

Esophageal conductance measurements were correlated with hemodynamic events in 9 dogs chronically instrumented for measurement of left ventricular (LV ) and aortic pressures, LV short asis and descending aortic diameters, and aortic blood now A four-electrode conductance catheter was positioned in th e esophagus. Both an internal and an internal/external configuration were e xamined during anesthesia with hemodilution, pulmonary lavage and dobutamin e infusion. LV stroke volume was altered by caval occlusion at each interve ntion, Stroke conductance was highly correlated to aortic or LV diameters a nd stroke volume over a range of diameters depending on the electrode confi guration. Esophageal conductance measurements are directly influenced by lo cal hemodynamic events adjacent to the site of measurement.