Cardiac output monitoring: aortic transpulmonary thermodilution and pulse contour analysis agree with standard thermodilution methods in patients undergoing lung transplantation

Purpose: The PiCCO System is a relatively new device allowing intermittent cardiac output monitoring by aortic transpulmonary thermodilution technique (Aorta intermittent) and continuous cardiac output monitoring by pulse contour analysis (Aorta continuous). The objective of this study was to assess the level of agreement of Aorta intermittent and Aorta continuous with intermittent (PA intermittent) and continuous cardiac output (PA continuous) measured through a special pulmonary artery catheter (Vigilance System SvO(2)/CCO Monitor) in patients undergoing single- or double-lung transplantation. Methods: Measurements were obtained in 58 patients: at four time point in patients undergoing single-lung transplantation and at six time points in those undergoing double-lung transplantation. Bland and Altman and correlation analyses were used for statistical evaluation. Results: We found close agreement between the techniques. Mean bias between Aorta intermittent and PA intermittent and between Aorta continuous and PA continuous was 0.18 L.min(-1) (2SD of differences between methods = 1.59 L.min(-1)) and -0.07 L.min(-1) (2SD of differences between methods = 1.46 L.min(-1)) respectively. Mean bias between PA continuous and PA intermittent and Aorta continuous and PA intermittent was 0.15 L.min(-1) (2SD of differences between methods = 1.39 L.min(-1)) and 0.08 L.min(-1) (2SD of differences between methods = 1.43 L.min(-1)). Conclusion: Measurements with the aortic transpulmonary thermodilution technique give continuous and intermittent values that agree with the pulmonary thermodilution method which is still the current clinical standard.