[Evaluation of continuous measurement of cardiac output with thermodilution in critical patients].

BACKGROUND

A new pulmonary artery catheter and monitor for continuous cardiac output measurement (CCO), based on thermodilution principle, has been recently developed. Aim of our study was to evaluate the new system by comparing data obtained with the CCO with the standard bolus thermodilution method (TD).

METHODS

Nineteen patients admitted in a medical intensive care unit were studied. In each patient 6 daily measurements of cardiac output (CO) were recorded using both the CCO and the TD. The parallel monitoring was continued for 48 h; 12 pair determinations were obtained in each patient with a total of 228.

RESULTS

Total CO ranged from 2.6 L/min to 10.6 L/min. The regression coefficient was 0.94. The bias of all measurements was 0.03 (SD: +1.22-1.16). The mean relative error was 1.52% +/- 29.9. Modifications in temperature or variations in heart rate did not change the agreement between the two techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm that CCO, although does not have all the characteristics of an ideal monitoring system, can be considered extremely useful and safe.