System PiCCO: Pulse Contour Cardiac Output

Overview

System PiCCO the enables haemodynamic measurement by means of a normal central line and special thermodilutionartery catheter introduced into the large systemic artery – i.e. it avoids pulmonary artery cannulation (PAC). Cardiac output(CO) measured with intermittent transpulmonary thermodilution and continuous pulse curve analysis correlates closelywith thePACthermodilution.Volumometric parameters of cardiac preloadmeasured withPiCCOare more accurate in cardiacpreload assessment than cardiac filling pressures (central venous pressure,CVP and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure,PAOP). In patients on controlled ventilation,dynamic preload parameters measured with the PiCCO (stroke volume variation,SVV and pulse pressure variation,PPV) are also excellent predictors of haemodynamic volume status. Further on, the PiCCOquantifies lung edema (extravascular lung water, EVLW).In most clinical situations, the PiCCO is a very useful and sufficient tool for haemodynamic measurement in critically ill.

Key words:
critical illness – haemodynamics – monitoring – cardiac output – thermodilution – extravascular lung water