Assessment of thermodilution cardiac output in small subjects

Thermodilution cardiac output determinations were compared with dye-dilution measurements in normovolemic and hypovolemic puppies. Good correlation was achieved with small volumes of cold and warm saline. Injectate volumes and significant caval displacement of the injectate port did not significantly affect thermodilution output measurements. This study demonstrates that thermodilution is a reliable and practical method of cardiac output determination in small subjects and suggests that this technique may be useful in the clinical management of neonates and small infants.