Effect of cardiac output on extravascular lung water measurements made with the thermoconductivity method

The authors tested the effects of injectate temperature and of changing cardiac output on the measurement of lung water by the thermoconductivity technique (ETVL). Cardiac output in dogs was increased and decreased with isoproterenol and halothane, respectively. Post mortem extravascular lung water (pulmonary extravascular tissue weight [PETW] was determined using a weighing technique. Cardiac output varied between 0.7 and 8.8 l/min and did not influence the ETVL measurement. The authors conclude ETVL measured by the thermoconductivity technique is not influenced by large changes in cardiac output.