Clinical applications of thermodilution cardiac output determinations

The pulmonary arterial catheter was shown to be safe and easily positioned in a group of 200 patients. Thermodilution cardiac output measurement was shown to be simple, rapid, and safe. The technic was as accurate as the simultaneously measured indocyanine green cardiac output, and more reproducible, particularly at high and low flows. The construction of myocardial performance curves during a fluid challenge is described. The value of these curves is guiding fluid, drug, and respirator therapy is illustrated by case presentations.