| 摘要 |
<p>A balloon (24, 358) is inserted by means of a catheter (19, 350) into the esophagus (26) and positioned adjacent the left atrium (28). As the balloon is gradually inflated, a tracing (108) on a steady baseline is obtained representing balloon pressure oscillations effected by left atrial pressure. The mean balloon pressure (110) indicative of approximate mean left atrial pressure is measured at the time when the amplitude of the balloon pressure oscillations effected by the left atrial pressure is at a peak. The catheter includes a naso-gastric tube (352) and is passed centrally of the balloon (358) so that contact between the balloon and the esophageal wall is not obstructed for greater reliability of mean left atrial pressure determinations. The catheter may also include an esophageal stethoscope (360) and/or an esophageal temperature sensor (362).</p> |
