Room-temperature thermodilution cardiac output: central venous vs right ventricular port.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the accuracy of room-temperature thermodilution cardiac output measurements from the right ventricular port. In addition, waveform patterns were evaluated to determine the actual location of the right ventricular port.


METHODS
Central venous port cardiac output measurements were compared with right ventricular port cardiac output measurements using the same right-heart catheter.


METHODS
The general intensive care unit of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.


METHODS
Thirty-seven critically ill cancer patients with 38 different right-heart catheters were evaluated.


METHODS
Four injections of 10 mL normal saline at room temperature were made through each port; the results of the last three injections were averaged. Cardiac output determinations from both ports were completed in less than 10 minutes. The order of port injection was random.


RESULTS
No difference was noted between cardiac output determinations from the two ports in a paired t test. Of 38 right-heart catheters, 17 were in the right ventricle and the other 21 in the right atrium. A comparison of ports in the 17 right ventricle catheters showed no difference with a significant (P < .01; R2 = 0.96) correlation.


CONCLUSIONS
Thermodilution cardiac output measurements using 10 mL normal saline at room temperature can be determined accurately using the right ventricular port if the central venous port becomes nonfunctional.
Pesola
G R
GR
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, N.Y.
Rostata
H P
HP
Carlon
G C
GC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015982:Bias; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013696:Temperature; D013815:Thermodilution / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods