Comparison of direct fick and thermodilution cardiac output techniques at high flow rates

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 59; no. 4; pp. 384 - 386
• Main Authors: Kubo, Spencer H., Burchenal, J.E.B., Cody, Robert J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.1987; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac Output; Cardiovascular system; Exercise Test; Female; Heart Failure - physiopathology; Humans; Hypertension - physiopathology; Investigative techniques of hemodynamics; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Thermodilution; Heart; Human; Flow rate; Thermodilution; Catheterization; Cardiovascular disease; Hemodynamics; Flowmetry
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-9149(87)90829-0

Several studies have demonstrated an excellent correlation between the thermodilution and direct Fick methods of determining cardiac output (CO). 1–4 There is generally close agreement between these 2 methods in both animal experiments and patients with a variety of cardiovascular disorders, for a range of CO from 2 to 13 liters/min. However, there are few data assessing the accuracy of the thermodilution technique in patients without left ventricular dysfunction, where exercise CO could approach the theoretical maximum of 25 to 30 liters/min. Therefore, the present study compared these 2 CO techniques at rest and during exercise in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) representing the low end of the spectrum, and in patients with systemic hypertension in whom cardiac reserve was near normal.