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From the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Scott & White Hospital, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to W. C. Culp, Jr., MD, Scott & White Hospital, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, 2401 South 31st St., Temple, TX 76508. Address e-mail to wculp{at}swmail.sw.org.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In this pilot study, we attempted to validate three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) cardiac output and assess its feasibility intraoperatively.
METHODS: Twenty patients undergoing cardiac surgery underwent simultaneous cardiac output determinations during the clinically stable prebypass period by 3DTEE and thermodilution.
RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between cardiac output measured by the two methods was 0.86. The 3DTEE mean bias was 0.27 L/min, limits of agreement –1.64 to 2.17 L/min (approximately ±35%). Three-dimensional data acquisition averaged 43 s; postprocessing took 7 min.
CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional TEE can measure cardiac output and is feasible perioperatively. Measurements have good correlation with thermodilution, though with a significant bias and wide limits of agreement.
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