Cardiac output measurement thermodilution

Cardiac output, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and stroke volume are measured by a thermodilution technique using a Cardiac Output Computer (Gould/Statham SP 1245) and a balloon-tip triple lumen catheter (Gould SP 5105, 5F) with the thermistor positioned in the pulmonary artery via the jugular vein. 

Alternatives to MRI include echo cardiography to measure LV wall thickness, lumen volume and cardiac output (Coatney 2001 Collins et al. 2003 de Simone et al. 1990 Zhou et al. 2004), dye-dilution techniques such as bolus thermodilution to measure cardiac output (Siren et al. 1990), and implanted pressure transducers and flow probes to measure left ventricular pressure... 

A common cause of death in Western Europe is chronic heart failure. Measures for its severity are hemodynamic parameters, including stroke volume (SV). Until now, the gold standard for measuring these parameters is the thermodilution technique using pulmonary artery catheters. However, the risks of estimating cardiac output via catheters include infections, sepsis and arrhythmias, as well as increased morbidity and mortality. An alternative technique to assess SV easily and cost-effectively is the use of impedance cardiography (ICG). 

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