Value of extravascular lung water measurement vs portable chest x-ray in the management of pulmonary edema.
Variability in technique and reporting time may limit radiographic quantitation of extravascular lung water by portable chest x-ray in critically ill patients. Using double indicator dilution technique and a commercially available lung water computer, we measured extravascular thermal volume (ETVL) in 14 patients with x-ray evidence of pulmonary edema and compared these results to x-ray quantitation of pulmonary edema. The diagnosis of pulmonary edema by interpretation of initial x-rays in each patient's series was 64% accurate as 5 of 14 patients had normal ETVL. Estimation of the magnitude of change in ETVL by radiologic interpretation was 42% accurate. No correlation was found between venous admixture Qsp/Qt, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (WP) or ETVL values. Measurement of ETVL may aid in the care of critically ill patients with suspected pulmonary edema.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001834:Body Water / Q000032:analysis*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007201:Indicator Dilution Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods*; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical
D004232:Diuretics; D009020:Morphine