Hemodynamics, fluids & transfusion
Small changes in the transducer position cause a systematic change in cardiac output readings: implications for clinical practice
Authors' conclusion
A four-centimeter change in vertical transducer position induced clinically significant changes in cardiac output measurements by 4th generation FloTrac software.
Study context
- Population
- Patients after cardiac surgery monitored with 4th generation FloTrac software
- Participants
- 20 patients
- Comparison
- Transducer 4 cm higher or 4 cm lower vs midaxillary plane
- Outcome
- CO measured by 4th generation FloTrac software
Methodological detailsrandomised transducer position, Averages of three measurements used
- Randomised transducer position
- Averages of three measurements used
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
CO
Relative increase, % (95% CI)P value
4 cm higher vs MidaxillaryP across positions
4.1(3.1–5.0)
P < 0.001- Midaxillary vs 4 cm lower
- relative decrease 3.4 % (95% CI 2.4–4.4)
- Change in CO per 1 cm change in transducer position
- ≈ 1%
Further findings
MAP and systemic vascular resistance
- Both changed significantly with transducer position
- both P < 0.001
Stroke volume variation
- No statistically or clinically significant effect
- P = 0.98
Original publication
Small changes in the transducer position cause a systematic change in cardiac output readings: implications for clinical practice. J Clin Monit Comput. Published 10 October 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →