noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring via the integration of data obtained by ecg aortic flow by doppler esophageal probe and by finger plethysmography the aims of this work are to describe the general and technical characteristics of a new device for the noninvasive monitoring of patients in intensive care and during general anaesthesia and the results concerning the reliability of this method an ultrasonic esophageal probe and an echodoppler device have been used to obtain continuous data of the aortic diameter and of blood velocity aortic output is calculated automatically this method together with other noninvasive monitoring techniques blood pressure heart rate rhythm and cardiac conduction gives on the one hand the data of aortic output systemic peripheral resistance and stroke volume on the other through a computerized elaboration the systolic time intervals pep preejection period lvet left ventricular ejection time qs2 electromechanical systole peplvet ratio of pep to lvet the validation of sti data has been obtained through 125 comparative measurements for each of the three parameters the data obtained through the aortic velocity waveform in descending aorta pulsed doppler have been compared with those obtained through the aortic pressure waveform intra aortic catheter the correlation was pep 092 lvet 095 qs2 093 the clinical application of this method supplies data concerning cardiac load afterload and indirectly cardiac preload this noninvasive procedure gives us a continuous measurement of hemodynamic situation which allows the physician to plan and evaluate the therapeutical efficacy finally new pathologic events may be opportunely faced