[Determination of cardiac output under PEEP-respiration with the "NCCOM 3" non-invasive bioimpedence monitor in comparison with the thermodilution method. A study in anesthetized dogs].

A new noninvasive cardiac output (CO) computer ("NCCOM 3") based on the bioimpedance principle was compared to a CO computer based on standard thermodilution measurements. Simultaneous measurements were made on dogs who were ventilated with or without positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP). There was no correlation of cardiac output measurements with the two methods (r = 0.10, n = 60). Comparing only measurements without PEEP yielded r = 0.41. Thermodilution measurements showed the well-known decline in cardiac output during PEEP, whereas the bioimpedance device recorded an increase in cardiac output. These differences were statistically significant. We conclude that the NCCOM 3 cannot at present replace the invasive standard methods of CO measurement in ventilated patients. A lack of differentiation of circulatory effects, thoracic gas volume, and intrathoracic fluid content is the most likely cause of the discrepancies seen.