Left Ventricular Volume Measurements in Man by Thermodilution*

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Abstract
In 38 patients, left ventricular volume estimations were obtained from thermodilution curves recorded in the ascending aorta after left ventricular injection of cooled saline. The results were reproducible and a discontinuous, steplike exponential function was consistently seen in the thermodilution curves. Patients without significant abnormalities of left ventricular function were compared with groups with various valve lesions. Those with "normal" ventricular function, with mitral stenosis, and those with pure aortic stenosis had similar end-diastolic ventricular volumes. Patients with aortic stenosis and the murmur of aortic insufficiency had larger volumes as did those with predominant aortic insufficiency. There was no correlation between end-diastolic volume and ventricular end-diastolic pressure when patients were compared. It is concluded that thermodilution offers a safe means of obtaining left ventricular volume estimations during left heart catheterization and that the information obtained is useful for clinical and investigative purposes.