[Intraoperative insertion of a catheter to measure left atrial pressure].

In the procedure described an ordinary intravenous catheter with its normal trocar is passed through the abdomino-thoracic wall, and the trocar is removed. Another trocar with a longer (3 cm) bevel is then introduced into the heart, the long bevel ensuring that the trocar is in the lumen of the left atrium only. The tip of the catheter, slightly bevelled in situ, is pushed into the atrium along this second trocar, which is then removed. This simple and safe technique facilitates measurements of left atrial pressure during the post-operative period in open-heart surgery.