Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Cardiac Pressure-Volume Loop Analysis Using Conductance Catheters in Mice
Published on: September 17, 2015
Correlation of esophageal conductance measurements with aortic and left ventricular diameters and stroke volume
D A Hettrick1, J H Battocletti, P S Pagel
1Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA. doug.hettrick@medtronic.com
Abstract:
Esophageal conductance measurements were correlated with hemodynamic events in 9 dogs chronically instrumented for measurement of left ventricular (LV) and aortic pressures, LV short axis and descending aortic diameters, and aortic blood flow. A four-electrode conductance catheter was positioned in the esophagus. Both an internal and an internal/external configuration were examined during anesthesia with hemodilution, pulmonary lavage and dobutamine infusion. LV stroke volume was altered by caval occlusion at each intervention. Stroke conductance was highly correlated to aortic or LV diameters and stroke volume over a range of diameters depending on the electrode configuration. Esophageal conductance measurements are directly influenced by local hemodynamic events adjacent to the site of measurement.
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