Bedside estimation of extravascular lung water in critically ill patients: comparison of the chest radiograph and the thermal dye technique.

Extravascular lung water (EVLW) was estimated in 53 critically ill patients by the chest radiograph (CXR) and the thermal dye technique. The comparison between these two methods revealed a direct and positive correlation (r = 0.83, p less than 0.001). However, EVLW-values obtained by the thermal dye technique showed considerable overlap between cases of radiographic low grade pulmonary edema and we were able to identify several reasons for radiographic over- or underestimation of EVLW. In these patients EVLW-measurement by the thermal dye technique provides additional information, thereby probably influencing further treatment.