Cardiac output measurement by thermodilution during cardiac operations.

Measurement of cardiac output by the thermodilution (COTD) technique through a flow-advanced pulmonary artery catheter is simple, reliable, and practical at the bedside. Rapid repeat determinations are possible, facilitating dynamic description of myocardial performance through construction of ventricular function curves. Replicate determinations of cardiac output indicate that the thermodilution method is more accurate than the indocyanine green technique. Examples of the clinical application of COTD in cardiac surgical patients are provided.