Simplified and highly accurate core temperature measurements.

A commercially available, highly accurate (+/- 0.01 degree C) thermistor catheter is described along with the feasibility of using this device to measure pulmonary artery blood temperature (core temperature) in appropriate thermoregulation studies. Intracardiac pressure monitoring, thermodilution cardiac output, and mixed venous blood sampling may also be performed with this catheter. In addition, other clinical situations which require temperature measurement such as diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia and monitoring patients after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass surgery may benefit from the use of this thermistor catheter.