Korean J Anesthesiol.  2007 Dec;53(6):689-694. 10.4097/kjae.2007.53.6.689.

Comparison of Cardiac Output from the Thermodilution Method versus a Transesophageal Doppler Ultrasound Monitor (Hemosonic 100(TM))

• Ok SY
• Park HJ
• Kim SI
• Kim SC

• KMID: 1937333
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2007.53.6.689

Abstract

BACKGOUND: The measurement of cardiac output (CO) is an important part of anesthetic practice in patients undergoing major surgery. The thermodilution method (TDM), using a pulmonary artery catheter, is still accepted as the standard procedure. However, the use of the method is associated with several limitations and severe complications. The use of a transesophageal Doppler ultrasound monitor (EDUM; Hemosonic 100(TM)) is less invasive and calculates CO from a simultaneous measurement of blood flow velocity and diameter of the descending aorta. The aim of this study was to compare the cardiac output measured by the use of the TDM and an EDUM.
Methods
In 20 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, CO and other hemodynamic profiles were measured simultaneously by the use of the TDM and an EDUM.
RESULTS
The cardiac output, cardiac index, and the systemic vascular resistance monitored by both devices were highly correlated (correlation coefficients range from 0.63 to 0.88). Bland and Altman analysis showed a consistently negative mean bias for an EDUM and the TDM. This finding indicates an overestimation of the hemodynamic profile by the use of an EDUM.
CONCLUSIONS
Although Bland and Altman analysis showed a significant bias, the use of an EDUM results in cardiac output, cardiac index, and total systemic vascular resistance measurements that are considerably similar to those obtained using the TDM, and a strong correlation exists for the use of the two methods.

Keyword

cardiac output; thermodilution method; transesophageal Doppler ultrasound monitor

MeSH Terms

Aorta, Thoracic
Bias (Epidemiology)
Blood Flow Velocity
Cardiac Output*
Catheters
Hemodynamics
Humans
Pulmonary Artery
Thermodilution*
Ultrasonography*
Vascular Resistance