Indocyanine green clearance in critically ill patients.

Forty-two consecutive patients were observed with the use of various biochemical and physiologic parameters. Attention was focused upon liver function, using serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin determinations as well as the plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green. No difference was noted in serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels between survivors and nonsurvivors. However, there was a significant difference between these two groups as measured by the plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green. A distinct cut-off point was present, and no survivor ever had a plasma disappearance rate of less than 6 per cent per minute.