[Determination of cardiac output by means of an automatized thermal dilution technique (author's transl)].

Cardiac output was measured in 55 patients by the direct Fick method and an automatized thermodilution method. The results showed a good correlation (correlation factor r = 0.87, regression equation y = 0.91 x + 0.59). For the thermodilution method ice-cold normal saline solution as indicator substance was injected into the right atrium. The temperature-time-curve was measured by a thermistor located in the pulmonary artery. The area of indicator dilution was determined by electronic integration, the calculated cardiac output appeared as 1/min in digital display.