Evaluation of the Aesculon cardiac output monitor by subxiphoidal Doppler flow measurement in children with congenital heart defects

Abstract

Background and objective: To evaluate the noninvasive electrical velocimetry (Aesculon) monitor for cardiac output (CO) by subxiphoidal Doppler flow measurement in children.

Methods: CO was determined at the end of diagnostic or interventional cardiac catheterization for congenital heart defects. Standard ECG surface electrodes were attached in a vertical direction to the patients' left middle and lower neck, and lower thorax at the level of the heart and xiphoid process. Aesculon CO data were compared with a simultaneously measured CO by the subxiphoidal Doppler flow measurement technique. For each patient, measurements were repeated three times within 5 min. Whitney U-test, simple regression and Bland-Altman analysis were performed to compare CO values obtained by the two techniques. Data are given as range (median).

Results: A total of 36 children aged 5.7 (0.5-16.0) years were investigated. CO values obtained by Aesculon monitor [0.55-5.58 (2.62) l min] and subxiphoidal Doppler flow measurements [0.62-6.27 (3.05) l min] differed significantly between both methods (P = 0.04). Simple regression analysis revealed moderate correlation between CO values obtained from the two techniques (r = 0.5544, P < 0.001). Bias between the two methods was 0.31 l min with a precision of 1.92 l min.

Conclusion: We conclude that electrical velocimetry using the Aesculon monitor does not reliably reflect absolute CO values as compared with subxiphoidal Doppler flow measurement.