Measurement of human portal blood flow by continuous thermodilution.

We wanted to use the Ganz thermistor catheter, developed to measure blood flow in human coronary sinuses, to measure portal venous flow, which is greater. We prepared a model circuit with a high flow rate and studied the method for suitability and reproducibility of the measurements. Correlation was close between the measured and calculated flow rates when the thermal indicator was injected at the rate of 48 ml/min. Measurements were highly reproducible. The catheter was then tested clinically. It was inserted into the portal trunk during percutaneous transhepatic catheterization to measure the portal venous flow. Measurements in patients with cirrhosis of the liver were close to those reported by other workers, and were reproducible. The results suggest that this method will be useful for the continuous local measurement of portal venous flow that varies with time, and will provide information about portal circulation in hepatic disease.