Case studies in advanced monitoring: OptiVol.

Two cases of congestive heart failure with decompensation are presented. The OptiVol fluid index (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN) provides an objective gauge of fluid status that can be difficult to obtain with routine clinical history or even with physical examination. The Cardiac Compass Report (Medtronic, Inc.) can identify a patient's ability to achieve euvolemia and the need for pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. Future studies will help define diagnostic and management algorithms using the OptiVol index, as well as in combination with other parameters in the Cardiac Compass Report, to facilitate proactive monitoring of patients with congestive heart failure.