Transpulmonary Thermodilution Method, also known as induced contour cardiac output (PiCCO) for haemodynamic monitoring of critical patients
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García-Velasco Sánchez-Morago S. Termodilución Transpulmonar. Monitorización hemodinámica del paciente crítico. Metas de Enferm sep 2007; 10(7): 57-64
Authors
Santiago García-Velasco Sánchez-Morago
Position
Diplomado en Enfermería. Servicio de Medicina Intensiva. Hospital General de Ciudad Real. Profesor asociado clínico de UCI de la Escuela Universitaria de Ciudad Real.
Contact address
C/ Capellán Marcelo Colino nº 5, casa 10. 13002 Ciudad Real.
Contact email: santgarc@telefonica.net
Abstract
Haemodynamic monitoring is essential for adequate management of the critical patients. Effective monitoring must show data concerning the patient’s haemodynamic status and it will enable decision making to avoid circulatory deterioration by instituting the proper treatment. Several methods exists to monitor the patient´s haemodynamic status; among these the most widely use ones are the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) or Swan-Ganz method and the pulse-induced contour cardiac output (PiCCO).
This method involves a comparative much less invasive monitoring approach than the conventional Swan-Ganz method. Furthermore, it offers a series of additional very useful parameters only available with the PiCCO system, such as intrathoracic blood volume, extravascular pulmonary water, cardiac function index and variation in systolic volume. The utility of these parameters lies with their specificity to assess the contractility and cardiac precharge and pulmonary deem, being one of the best overall indicators of cardiac function. The purpose of this paper is to provide the nurse with the necessary knowledge to effectively manage PiCCO within the context of Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
Keywords:
haemodynamic monitoring; cardiac expenditure; transpulmonary thermodilution; arterial pulse curve; intensive carenursing
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