Effects of Body Temperature on Accuracy of Continuous Cardiac Output Measurements

Abstract

Intermittent measurement of cardiac output is routine in the critically ill surgical patient. A new catheter allows real-time continuous measurement of cardiac output. This study evaluated the impact of body temperature variation on the accuracy of these measurements compared to standard intermittent bolus thermodilution technique. This prospective study in a university hospital surgical intensive care unit included 20 consecutive trauma patients. Data were collected with pulmonary artery catheters, which allowed both continuous (CO_C) and bolus (CO_B) thermodilution measurements. The catheter was placed through either the subclavian or internal jugular vein. Measurements for CO_B were performed using a bolus (10cm³) of ice-cold saline with a closed-injectate delivery system at end-expiration. Computer-generated curves were created on a bedside monitor, and the average of three measurements within 10% of one another was used as CO_B. CO_C

• Cardiac Output Catheterization Critical Care Heart Hemodynamics Monitoring Physiologic Pulmonary Thermodilution Trauma Patients