[Semi-invasive cardiac output measurement using a combined transesophageal ultrasound device. Early experiences].
OBJECTIVE
Measurement of cardiac output (CO) with pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) is currently item of many discussions. We investigated the reliability of results using the noninvasive measurement of aortic blood flow (ABF) (combined Doppler- and M-Mode transesophageal ultrasound, Dynemo 3000, Sometec Inc, Paris, France).


METHODS
In 75 patients during cardiac or major abdominal surgery we performed 313 simultaneous measurements of CO and ABF.


RESULTS
Placement of ultrasound probe into correct position took less than 2 min. Quality and stability of ultrasound signals were good. The coefficient of correlation between ABF and CO was found to be 0.89 with CO = 0.97 x ABF + 1.1, Bland-Altman-Test positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of ABF detected by combined Doppler- and M-Mode-Echography are comparable with results of CO obtained by PAC. Therefore we are convinced that this noninvasive method will find its place in clinical situations of compromised CO.
Dummler
R
R
Anästhesieabteilung, Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus, Stuttgart.
Emmerich
M
M
Klein
G
G
Wagner
G
G
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology*; D002407:Catheterization, Swan-Ganz; D004452:Echocardiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006334:Heart Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology