[Cardiac index monitoring by pulse contour analysis: 2. PiCCO]

It is difficult to maintain well-balanced stability of respiratory and hemodynamic functions in critically ill patients. The PiCCO system (Pulsion Medical Systems, Munich, Germany) for hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring has been available clinically in Japan since 2000. Unlike other conventional monitoring devices, the PiCCO system provides important parameters not only of hemodynamics but also of respiratory condition in critically ill patients. The PiCCO system is mainly used in intensive care for patients with sepsis, septic shock and cardiogenic shock. Further clinical investigations are required to confirm that estimating PiCCO parameters such as ITBVI, EVLWI and PVPI may help to better characterize, guide, and improve the treatment of critically ill patients.