In perspective: new medical devices and improved patient outcome.

New medical device technologies designed to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease are being introduced at an ever increasing pace. Cardiovascular nurses should analyze each new technology before initiating a change in practice. A thorough review and critique of the literature pertaining to the new technology should be made, with particular emphasis on: 1) evaluating if there is a true clinical need for this product; 2) whether the implementation of the new technology will improve patient outcome; and 3) whether there is a real cost/risk/benefit justification. The product development process is briefly reviewed as a framework for understanding the goals of the development process and how these goals may or may not relate to information relevant to evaluation for a change in practice. Newly developed continuous cardiac output catheters are presented as an example for the critique process. There are significant gaps in our knowledge regarding the impact of cardiac output (both intermittent and continuous) on patient outcome, providing extensive opportunities for nursing research.