Hemodynamic monitoring in the community hospital ICU

Cardiac output and intravascular pressures were monitored in a series of 20 critically ill patients in a community hospital during a 1-year period. Hemodynamic monitoring was very useful in the evaluation of clinical problems; data indicating hypovolemia and cardiac problems were found in 8 and 5 patients, respectively. More importantly, the frequently repeated measurements before and during therapy were extremely helpful in titrating therapy. Reliance of CVP measurements would not have provided the essential information.