Haemodynamic measurements (continuous cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance) in critically ill patients: transoesophageal Doppler versus continuous thermodilution.

Ten critically ill patients underwent this prospective study to assess the reliability of the continuous thermodilution versus transoesophageal Doppler techniques in the determination of continuous cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). A total of 145 pairs of CO and SVR measurements were obtained by both a pulmonary artery catheter with a heated filament and a transoesophageal Doppler apparatus (ODM II). Total CO ranged from 2.4 and 13 l.min-1; the bias of all measurements was 0.01 +/- 0.48 l.min-1, and the 95% confidence limits (mean difference +/- 2 SD) were 0.97/0.96 l.min-1. Total SVR ranged from 309 and 2643 dyn.s.cm-5; the bias of all measurements was 18 +/- 127 dyn.s.cm-5, and the 95%, confidence limits were 272/236 dyn.s.cm-5. Transoesophageal Doppler accurately measures continuous CO and SVR in critically ill patients. It should be viewed as complementary to pulmonary catheterization.