Review
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World J Cardiol. Sep 26, 2014; 6(9): 1022-1029
Published online Sep 26, 2014. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v6.i9.1022
Newer methods of cardiac output monitoring
Yatin Mehta, Dheeraj Arora
Yatin Mehta, Dheeraj Arora, Institute of Critical Care and Anesthesiology, Medanta The Medicity, Haryana 122001, India
Author contributions: Both authors mutually contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Yatin Mehta, MD, MNAMS, FRCA, Chairman, Institute of Critical Care and Anesthesiology, Medanta The Medicity, Sector 38, Gurgaon, Haryana 122001, India. yatinmehta@hotmail.com
Telephone: +91-124-4141414
Received: December 23, 2013
Revised: May 7, 2014
Accepted: July 15, 2014
Published online: September 26, 2014
Processing time: 278 Days and 13.1 Hours
Abstract

Cardiac output (CO) is the volume of blood ejected by each ventricle per minute and is the product of stroke volume and heart rate. CO can thus be manipulated by alteration in heart rate or rhythm, preload, contractility and afterload. Moreover it gives important information about tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery. CO can be measured by various methods and thermodilution method using pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) is till date considered as gold standard method. Complications associated with PAC led to development of newer methods which are minimally or non-invasive. Newer methods fulfil other properties like continuous and reproducible reading, cost effective, reliable during various physiological states and have fast response time. These methods are validated against the gold standard with good level agreement. In this review we have discussed various newer methods of CO monitoring and their effectiveness in clinical use.

Keywords: Cardiac output; Pulse contour analysis; Pulse power analysis; Bioimpedance; Doppler; Echocardiography

Core tip: This is review of newer methods of cardiac output monitoring which are minimally invasive and have lesser complications as compared to gold standard methods.