Cardiac output by impedance cardiography during head-out water immersion

This study was undertaken to ascertain the suitability of impedance cardiography for qualifying cardiac output during water immersion where the electrodes were wet. The cardiac output was compared during wet and dry immersion with the head above water by breath holding briefly at 3 lung volumes. For dry immersion, the subjects were protected from contacting water during immersion by enveloping the whole body in a thin plastic bag. For wet immersion, the subject went into the water wearing only trunks. Eleven healthy males served as subjects. Both basal thoracic impedance and the minimum rate of impedance change decreased during wet immersion. These changes were specific, which insignificantly influenced the computation of stroke volume as compared to dry immersion. Our results showed no statistical differences between wet and dry immersions, and between measurements made at total lung capacity functional residual capacity, or residual volume. It is concluded that impedance cardiography is applicable directly in wet conditions without having to protect the subject from getting wet.