Noninvasive estimation of extravascular lung water using bioimpedance

Currently, accurate measurements of extravascular lung water (EVLW) are obtained using the double dye dilution technique (DD). However, this method is invasive and complicated and has limited its clinical use. The purpose of this study was to develop a noninvasive method for determining changes in EVLW using bioimpedance (BI) and compare these measurements with DD in a model of acute pulmonary injury. Nine adult dogs were anesthetized and instrumented with a pulmonary artery and an EVLW arterial catheter with EVLW-DD and cardiac output calculated from the dye and thermal dilution curves. Eight external electrodes were placed on the thorax and impedance changes were measured by computer. Changes in EVLW-BI were computed as a function of the thoracic volume and impedance. Cardiac output (CO) from BI was obtained by electronically differentiating the bioimpedance signal. EVLW and CO were measured using DD and BI at 0, 15, 30, and 60 min following injection of oleic acid (0.1 cc/kg). Changes in EVLW were correlated over all time periods using DD and BI (r = 0.70, P less than 0.05); however, several impedance EVLW estimates varied greatly from double dilution methods. There was no difference in computed EVLW using DD and BI at 15, 30, and 60 min following oleic acid infusion (P greater than 0.35). CO was significantly correlated using DD and BI (r = 0.81, P less than 0.05). In summary, bioimpedance may hold promise as a noninvasive and continuous means for estimation of EVLW in the critical care setting.