The hot-film anemometer--a method for blood velocity determination. II. In vivo comparison with the electromagnetic blood flowmeter.

Using a constant temperature hot-film anemometer and an electromagnetic blood flowmeter, volumetric flows and velocity profiles were registered in the pulmonary artery, ascending aorta, abdominal aorta and superior vena cava of mongrel dogs. The anemometer registered in 3 out of 4 dogs in the ascending aorta and in 4 out of 5 dogs in the pulmonary artery. The flow profile in these two vessels was flat with a slight deviation with the highest velocity nearer to the posterior wall. In the abdominal aorta the flow profile was sinusoid and in the superior vena cava irregular. In 22 simultaneous measurements anemometer mean results were 97 +/- 23% (+/- SD) of flowmeter results and peak results correspondingly 113 +/- 23%. None of these differences were significant. It is stressed that both qualitatively and quantitatively hot-film anemometer results are comparable to electromagnetic flowmeter results. However, certain differences have been demonstrated.