Transpulmonary thermodilution curves for detection of shunt

Intensive Care Med. 2010 Jun;36(6):1083-6. doi: 10.1007/s00134-010-1876-7. Epub 2010 Apr 16.

Abstract

Purpose: Monitoring using transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) via a single thermal indicator technique allows measurement of cardiac output, extravascular lung water (EVLW) and volumetric variables.

Methods and results: This report describes two cases of systemic-venous circulation shunt generating early recirculation of thermal indicator with overestimation of EVLW.

Conclusion: In the case of recirculation of thermal indicator, the observed overestimated EVLW in absence of gas exchanges abnormality could be an indicator suggesting the search for a circulatory shunt.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / physiopathology
  • Cardiac Output / physiology*
  • Critical Illness
  • Extravascular Lung Water / physiology*
  • Female
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / physiopathology
  • Hemodynamics / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods*
  • Pulmonary Circulation / physiology
  • Pulmonary Edema / diagnosis
  • Thermodilution / instrumentation
  • Thermodilution / methods*
  • Young Adult