Cardiac output measured by lithium dilution and transpulmonary thermodilution in patients in a paediatric intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the results of cardiac output measurements obtained by lithium dilution and transpulmonary thermodilution in paediatric patients.


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
Paediatric intensive care unit in a university teaching hospital.


METHODS
Twenty patients (age 5 days-9 years; weight 2.6-28.2 kg) were studied.


METHODS
Between two and four comparisons of lithium dilution cardiac output (LiDCO) and transpulmonary thermodilution (TPCO) were made in each patient.


RESULTS
Results from three patients were excluded: in one patient there was an unsuspected right-to-left shunt, in two patients there was a problem with blood sampling through the lithium sensor. There were 48 comparisons of LiDCO and TPCO in the remaining 17 patients over a range of 0.4-6 l/min. The mean of the differences (LiDCO-TPCO) was -0.1 +/- 0.3 (SD) l/min. Linear regression analysis gave LiDCO = 0.11 + 0.90 x TPCO l/min (r2 = 0.96). There were no adverse effects in any patient.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the LiDCO method can be used to provide safe and accurate measurement of cardiac output in paediatric patients. The method is simple and quick to perform, requiring only arterial and venous catheters, which will already have been inserted for other reasons in these patients.
Linton
R A
RA
The Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK. robert@foxlinton.demon.co.uk
Jonas
M M
MM
Tibby
S M
SM
Murdoch
I A
IA
O'Brien
T K
TK
Linton
N W
NW
Band
D M
DM
D000367:Age Factors; D001835:Body Weight; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004395:Dye Dilution Technique / Q000295:instrumentation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods; D016014:Linear Models; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D013815:Thermodilution / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
D018021:Lithium Chloride