Cardiac output: theory, technique, and troubleshooting.

Cardiac output is a hemodynamic parameter used by critical care nurses to guide and evaluate therapy. The thermodilution method of cardiac output measurement has allowed this parameter to be obtained at the bedside that is easily performed, timely, and reliable. Despite the relative simplicity in measuring cardiac output with the thermodilution method, it is not without problems. Potential physiologic and technical problems may yield erroneous cardiac output values. Critical care nurses must strive to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skill in performing thermodilution cardiac output measurements to ensure accurate and reliable values.