[Noninvasive cardiac output determinations].

The thermodilution determination of cardiac output (CO) by pulmonary arterial catheterization is considered to be the gold standard. However, a diversity of complications associated with the insertion and use of a catheter has made for the design of CO-measuring devices in a mini- or noninvasive mode. This prospective controlled study has been conducted to compare various CO determination techniques by the shape of the arterial curve (ART), as shown by the use of a transesophageal Doppler ultrasonic sensor (TEDUS) determining the blood flow velocity in the descending thoracic aorta by the Fick's backward equation with partial CO2 recirculation, by measuring thoracic bioimpedance (Tbio) by bolus thermodilution as the reference method (CO BT).