Instructions for use – Infinity Acute Care System – Monitoring Applications VG6.n
325
Cardiac output (C.O.)
Patient preparation for cardiac output monitoring
The following tips provide optimal cardiac output
monitoring results but must never replace hospital-
approved practices or manufacturer’s
recommendations.
– Follow the recommendations of the
manufacturer. Dräger recommends that you
place pre-filled syringes or the closed injectate
delivery system into an ice bath.
– Check the ice bath regularly and add ice to
maintain a temperature between 0 °C (32 °F)
and 5 °C (41 °F). The accuracy of
measurements done with the thermodilution
method increases as the temperature of the
injectate approaches 0 °C (32 °F).
– Verify the injectate volume.
– Verify the proper selection of catheter type and
size or computation constant if
Other
is chosen
for catheter type.
– Use an in-line injectate system. Systems that
measure the injectate temperature in the ice
bath can introduce errors. These errors happen
because the injectate temperature changes
between its removal from the ice bath and the
injection.
– If you fill your syringes manually, fill them with
the same volume each time. The recommended
amount is 10 cc for adults and 5 cc for pediatric
patients. Do not touch the body of the syringe to
avoid warming the injectate.
– Inject the entire volume in one swift, continuous
motion.
– Perform the injection at the end of expiration.
Taking successive cardiac output
measurements at different points in the
respiratory cycle provides different
measurements, especially for patients on
mechanical ventilators.
– Discard results that are widely different from the
general trend, and results associated with
irregularly shaped waveforms.
NOTE
For the most accurate results when using an
injectate at room temperature, use a 10 cc
injectate volume unless clinically contraindicated.
