Lithium dilution cardiac output measurement: a clinical assessment of central venous and peripheral venous indicator injection.
Journal Article
OBJECTIVE: The lithium indicator dilution technique has been shown to measure cardiac output (CO) accurately by using central venous injection of lithium chloride (Li-CCO). This study aimed to compare the measurement of CO by using peripheral venous administration of lithium chloride (Li-PCO) with Li-CCO. DESIGN: Prospective, observational human study. SETTING: Surgical intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Thirty-one patients were studied after major surgery. All patients had arterial, central, and peripheral venous catheters. A total of 24 patients had pulmonary artery catheters. MEASUREMENTS: Serial measurements of Li-CCO and Li-PCO were made during hemodynamically stable conditions. CO was also measured using thermodilution (TDCO) when a pulmonary artery catheter was present. Data were analyzed by linear regression, the generalized estimating equation, and the comparison method described by Bland and Altman. MAIN RESULTS: There were 93 Li-CCOs, 93 Li-PCOs, and 216 TDCOs recorded. The ranges of COs were similar: Li-CCO, 2.36-11.52 L/min (mean, 5.22 L/min; n = 31); Li-PCO, 1.63-9.99 L/min (mean, 5.22 L/min; n = 31), and TDCO, 3.28-10.4 L/min (mean, 5.75 L/min; n = 24). There was good linear correlation between Li-CCO and Li-PCO (R2 =.845). The mean difference for Li-CCO-Li-PCO was very small and insignificant (p =.97), and the limits of agreement were acceptable (mean difference +/- sd, 0.0005 +/- 0.64 L/min). The mean difference for Li-CCO-Li-PCO was smaller if the peripheral injection site was proximal rather than distal to the wrist (p =.053). Li-PCO and Li-CCO values were lower than simultaneously obtained TDCO measurements (Li-PCO-TDCO, -0.538 +/- 0.95 L/min, p =.003; Li-CCO-TDCO, -0.526 +/- 0.67 L/min, p =.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Li-PCO gives a measurement that agrees well with Li-CCO. Accuracy of Li-PCO is probably improved if a proximal arm vein is used. Li-PCO provides accurate measurements of CO without the risks of pulmonary artery or central venous catheterization.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Garcia-Rodriguez, C; Pittman, J; Cassell, CH; Sum-Ping, J; El-Moalem, H; Young, C; Mark, JB
Published Date
- October 2002
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 30 / 10
Start / End Page
- 2199 - 2204
PubMed ID
- 12394944
Pubmed Central ID
- 12394944
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0090-3493
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1097/00003246-200210000-00004
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States