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Non-invasive measurement of cardiac output: whole-body impedance cardiography in simultaneous comparison with thermodilution and direct oxygen Fick methods

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Abstract

Objective

To determine the reliability of whole-body impedance cardiography (ICGWB), with electrodes attached to wrists and ankles, in the measurement of cardiac output (CO) on the basis of simultaneous comparison with thermodilution (TD) and direct oxygen Fick (Fick) methods.

Design

Prospective clinical study.

Setting

A surgical intensive care unit at a university hospital.

Patients

Thirty consecutive subjects undergoing a coronary artery bypass surgery were investigated preoperatively.

Measurements

ICGWB derived CO was measured simultaneously with the TD and Fick methods to establish the biases and limits of agreement (LA) between the methods.

Results

The results obtained by ICGWB and the invasive methods showed good agreement. The bias and LA between COTD and COICG were 0.001/min; −1.37 and 1.37 1/min, respectively, and were close to those obtained between COTD and COFICK, 0.321/min; 1.74 and −1.101/ min. The bias and LA between the COFICK and COICG were −0.32 1/min; −2.24 and 1.60 1/min respectively. The repeatability value of consecutive single measurements for ICGWB (RVICG=0.571/min) was much better than for the TD method (RVTD=1.10 1/min).

Conclusion

There was close agreement between the results of the three methods in the measurement of CO. In sedated preoperative patients the accuracy of ICGWB is within clinically acceptable limits and its repeatability is excellent. ICGWB provides a useful alternative to the TD and Fick methods in cases where the pressures supplied by the pulmonary artery catheter are not essential.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital, PO Box 2000, FIN-33521, Tampere, Finland

    T. Kööbi & T. Ahola

  2. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

    S. Kaukinen

  3. Department of Clinical Physiology, Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    V. M. H. Turjanmaa

Authors
  1. T. Kööbi
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  2. S. Kaukinen
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  3. T. Ahola
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  4. V. M. H. Turjanmaa
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Additional information

This study was supported by the Medical Research Fund of Tampere University Hospital

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Kööbi, T., Kaukinen, S., Ahola, T. et al. Non-invasive measurement of cardiac output: whole-body impedance cardiography in simultaneous comparison with thermodilution and direct oxygen Fick methods. Intensive Care Med 23, 1132–1137 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001340050469

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001340050469

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