[On-line monitoring of cardiac output with a new pulse contour computer (author's transl)].

A new pulse contour cardiac output computer, operating from the aortic pressure wave form was tested in cardiac surgical patients. Reference cardiac output was measured by thermal dilution technique. Satisfactory agreements were obtained between the thermal dilution and the COC-pulse-contour cardiac outputs when rapid variations of cardiac output occurred as well as slowly developing changes. The results show that the computation of the stroke volume from the aortic pressure wave form offers a simple, clinically useful method for on-line monitoring of cardiac output in critically ill patients. Possible error sources are discussed.