NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Whole-body electrical bioimpedance measurement is an accurate method of noninvasively monitoring cardiac output, Israeli researchers report. This technique “will enable better risk stratification and follow-up of patients with heart failure, ischemic heart disease and hypertension,” Dr. Gad Cotter told Reuters Health.
Dr. Cotter of Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, and colleagues note in the April issue of Chest that continuously measuring cardiac output and calculating cardiac index generally requires right-heart catheterization, and is thus used sparingly. However, “recent advances in bioimpedance technology enable more accurate cardiac output measurement,” Dr. Cotter said.
The researchers conducted a double-blind study of cardiac patients to compare the noninvasive cardiac output system monitor (NICO) -- which employs the relationship between aortic blood volume and the measurable conductance of the whole body -- with the thermodilution approach.
Cardiac output was measured three times by bioimpedance and three times by thermodilution and an average was determined in 122 patients undergoing various procedures. Specifically, output was measured in patients having cardiac catheterization; before, during and after bypass in coronary surgery patients; and before and during vasodilation in patients being treated for acute heart failure.
In all, 418 paired cardiac output measurements were obtained. The researchers note that there was a “highly significant correlation” between the cardiac index obtained by the bioimpedance method and that achieved using thermodilution. This was true of the whole cohort and also of each of the three patient groups.
Thus the investigators conclude that the results obtained via the NICO, “are accurate in rapid, noninvasive measurement and the follow-up of cardiac output in a wide variety of cardiac clinical situations.”
Source: Chest 2004;125:1431-1440. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Biological Sciences: Biophysics: Electric Conductivity: Electrophysiology: Indicator Dilution Techniques: Investigative Techniques: Physical Sciences: Physics: Physiology: Physiological Processes: Thermodilution: Electric Impedance: Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment: Biological Sciences: Physical SciencesCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
