title: [Various methods for monitoring cardiac output in intensive care patients].
abstract: This article presents a mini medical technology evaluation of three less invasive monitoring techniques for monitoring cardiac output, CardioQ, ECOM and PiCCO, with focus on validation, usability and costs in intensive care. In conclusion, when identifying patients with low cardiac output, we suggest starting with simple screening tools (e.g. CardioQ or central venous O2 saturation), and when in doubt, upgrade to better validated, yet more time-consuming techniques (e.g. PiCCO using thermodilution). Also consults should be made to other intensive care units in terms of the practical implementation of the monitors.
authors.affiliation: Anæstesiologisk Afdeling, Holbæk Sygehus, Smedelundsgade 60, 4300 Holbæk, Denmark. tpm@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Thea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palsgaard Møller
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perner
authors.forename: Hans-Henrik
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Bülow
mesh_terms: D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology*; D016638:Critical Illness; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D013815:Thermodilution