Principles of Measurement and Parameters
Operator´s Manual PiCCO
2
Page
Version 3.1
B-3
2.3
Transpulmonary volume determination
Specific volumes can be calculated by multiplying cardiac output with characteristic time variables of the
thermodilution curve.
The parameters can alternatively be displayed as absolute parameters or indexed to the patient´s body
characteristics.
The PiCCO
2
uses predicted body weight (PBW) to index intrathoracic volumetric parameters.
Absolute Parameters
Indexed Parameters
Parameter
Abbr.
Unit
Abbr.
Unit
Global End-Diastolic Volume
GEDV
ml
GEDI
ml/m
2
Extravascular Lung Water
EVLW
ml
ELWI
ml/kg
Global Ejection Fraction
GEF
%
Pulmonary Vascular Permeability Index PVPI
-
Cardiac Function Index
CFI
1/min
Intrathoracic Blood Volume
ITBV
ml
ITBI
ml/m
2
2.3.1
GEDV / ITBV
GEDV
ITBV
Figure 2: GEDV / ITBV
Global End-Diastolic Volume (GEDV) is the total amount of blood left in all four heart chambers, i.e. atria and
ventricles, at the end of diastole.
Intrathoracic Blood Volume (ITBV) represents the total amount of blood in the thorax.
GEDV and ITBV reflect the circulatory volume status and are excellent indicators of cardiac preload. GEDV
and ITBV are used for managing the patient´s vascular filling status and guiding volume therapy.
CAUTION:
Aortic aneurysms may cause the displayed blood volume (GEDV/ITBV) derived by
thermodilution measurement to be erroneously high.