[Clinical application of the electric cardiometry based non-invasive ICON® hemodynamic monitor].

Establishment of a proper hemodynamic monitoring system in order to achieve optimal care among critically ill patients is fundamental. In contrast to invasive patient-checking systems, which were introduced decades ago and used in both adult and pediatric intensive care, the non-invasive methods have become more popular in recent years due to technical advancements in intensive care and patient monitoring. This increase in popularity can be attributed to the higher degree of safety and reduced complication rates as well as to its being more economical. Our summary focuses on the ICON® patient monitoring system. This newly engineered, non-invasive tool is based on electrical cardiometry, and uses hemodynamic parameters in both neonatal and pediatric care as well as in adults. The operating principle is simple: the conductivity of the blood in the aorta shows time-dependent changes. Prior to the opening of the aortic valve, the orientation of the red blood cells (RBCs) is random, and it is not until the contraction of the aorta that the RBCs and the opening of the aortic valve achieve a parallel position. The tool senses the conductivity between four placed electrodes, and measures the stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO), before calculating other additional parameters (eg.: systemic vascular resistance) by tracing the variation of bioimpedance according to changes in the heart cycle. The most important advantages of ICON® are the measurements that are made available immediately as well as continuously, and the low complication rate that originates from its non-invasive operation. ICON® is a new, promising hemodynamic device in the tool belt of intensive care. Due to the nature of the device, it is possible to evaluate the status of the patient on a continuous basis, allowing for optimal care. To identify the more accurate clinical indications further measures will be necessary. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(44): 1775-1781.