title: Thermodilution versus inert gas rebreathing for estimation of effective pulmonary blood flow.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare measurements of the effective pulmonary blood flow (Qep, i.e., nonshunted fraction of cardiac output, Qt) by the inert gas rebreathing (RB) method and the thermodilution (TD) technique in critically ill patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, comparative study of a noninvasive method and an established invasive technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 11-bed general intensive care unit in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 14 critically ill patients, all mechanically ventilated and monitored with systemic and pulmonary artery catheters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Qep was determined in duplicate by RB using a mass spectrometer for gas analysis. For each determination, Qt was measured in triplicate by the cold water bolus TD technique and averaged. Simultaneously mixed venous and arterial blood samples were analyzed to calculate the intrapulmonary shunt fraction and thereby convert estimates of Qt to Qep. Mean difference between paired estimates (RB - TD) was 0.01 L/min, so for differences was 1.19 L/min, and 95% confidence interval for the bias was -0.45 to 0.47 L/min. Coefficients of variation for repeated Qep estimates were 8% (RB) and 12% (TD), respectively. Coefficients of variation for RB estimates of functional residual capacity and lung tissue volume were 6% and 17%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RB method is a promising method for simultaneous noninvasive estimation of Qep and functional residual capacity in mechanically ventilated patients. However, further investigations are needed to evaluate potential problems of the method before it can be recommended for clinical purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clemensen
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Henneberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002302:Cardiac Output; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013815:Thermodilution