Comparison of the accuracy of transpulmonary thermodilution measurement using indicators of different temperatures.

Transpulmonary thermodilution measurement is a convenient method for hemodynamic monitoring. However, the previously reported indicator temperature was not consistent. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of Pulse index Continuous Cardiac Output (PiCCO) monitoring using indicators of different temperatures. A total of 104 critically ill patients received PiCCO monitoring using indicators of either 0°C or 8°C. The PiCCO measurements, including general ejection fraction, global end-diastolic index, and cardiac index, were compared between the two temperatures, and were also correlated with that of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The two indicator temperatures differed significantly in hemodynamic measurements (P<0.01). PiCCO measurements with either indicator temperatures showed positive correlation with TEE results (P<0.05). The 0°C indicator had universally higher correlation coefficients than the 8°C indicator. So, PiCCO monitoring with the 0°C indicator might have better accuracy than the 8°C indicator.