Global and right ventricular end-diastolic volumes correlate better with preload after correction for ejection...

Volumetric monitoring with right ventricular end-diastolic volume indexed (RVEDVi) and global end-diastolic volume indexed (GEDVi) is increasingly being suggested as a superior preload indicator compared with the filling pressures central venous pressure (CVP) or the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). However, static monitoring of these volumetric parameters has not consistently been shown to be able to predict changes in cardiac index (CI). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a correction of RVEDVi and GEDVi with a measure of the individual contractile reserve, assessed by right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and global ejection fraction, improves the ability of RVEDVi and GEDVi to monitor changes in preload over time in critically ill patients.

Hemodynamic measurements, both by pulmonary artery and by transcardiopulmonary thermodilution, were performed in 11 mechanically ventilated medical ICU patients. Correction of volumes was achieved by normalization to EF deviation from normal EF values in an exponential fashion. Data before and after fluid administration were obtained in eight patients, while data before and after diuretics were obtained in seven patients.

No correlation was found between the change in cardiac filling pressures (DeltaCVP, DeltaPCWP) and DeltaCI (R(2) 0.01 and 0.00, respectively). Further, no correlation was found between DeltaRVEDVi or DeltaGEDVi and DeltaCI (R(2) 0.10 and 0.13, respectively). In contrast, a significant correlation was found between DeltaRVEDVi corrected to RVEF (DeltacRVEDVi) and DeltaCI (R(2) 0.64), as well as between DeltacGEDVi and DeltaCI (R(2) 0.59). An increase in the net fluid balance with +844 + or - 495 ml/m(2) resulted in a significant increase in CI of 0.5 + or - 0.3 l/min/m(2); however, only DeltacRVEDVi (R(2) 0.58) and DeltacGEDVi (R(2) 0.36) correlated significantly with DeltaCI. Administration of diuretics resulting in a net fluid balance of -942 + or - 658 ml/m(2) caused a significant decrease in CI with 0.7 + or - 0.5 l/min/m(2); however, only DeltacRVEDVi (R(2) 0.80) and DeltacGEDVi (R(2) 0.61) correlated significantly with DeltaCI.

Correction of volumetric preload parameters by measures of ejection fraction improved the ability of these parameters to assess changes in preload over time in this heterogeneous group of critically ill patients.