[Error analysis of the thermoindicator method for the determination of the heart minute volume]

In the modern clinical setting, the determination of cardiac output by thermodilution is probably the most widely used method. Factors which are the basis for calculation of cardiac output measured by thermodilution are analyzed and possible sources of errors are described. This method offers the advantage of simplicity and unlimited repeatability at the bedside. Specific sources of error include factors influencing the temperature of the injectate bolus, the determination of initial baseline blood temperature, the integration of the dilution curve and the technique of injection. A model for the determination of the overall accuracy is described. The method can be used reliably. The overall accuracy was found to be from 86% to 93%.