Cardiac Output (CO)

Thermodilution method

Measurement Principle

A (cold) liquid is injected into the right atrium via a hole in a

special catheter (Swan Ganz) which is additionally equipped with
a temperature measurement device (thermistor) at the tip.
When the liquid passes through the valve into the right ventricle
and then into the pulmonary artery, it gets mixed with the blood
and cools it down. Depending on the pumping capacity of the
heart muscle, the blood that passes the thermistor returns to
normal temperature more or less quickly.

For internal use only! Please note: The only released document for end-customer training is the
operator manual For internal use only
Page 49 H CX CRM-VA HCC COR
Cardiac Output (CO)
Thermodilution method

Swan Ganz catheter or

Thermodilution catheter
Measured Temp

Injectate

Pressure

Reference Temp

Balloon

Temperature

For internal use only! Please note: The only released document for end-customer training is the
operator manual For internal use only
Page 50 H CX CRM-VA HCC COR
 Cardiac Output (CO)
Thermodilution method
Important on Sensis
When using a room temperature
CO injectate without the In-line
Thermistor Temp at catheter tip Thermistor T-piece, the CO
cable
In-line Thermistor T-piece Thermistor cable AND
the CO Intermediate cable must
stay connected for thermodilution
cardiac output measurements.
Keep
connected CO
Intermediate
cable Consequence if ignored:
The CO measurement will lead to
too high CO values, as the system
To inflate balloon assumes 0°C (= 32° F) injectate
temperature.

For internal use only! Please note: The only released document for end-customer training is the
operator manual For internal use only
Page 51 H CX CRM-VA HCC COR
Cardiac Output (CO)
Thermodilution method
Important on Sensis
 Selection of the right catheter type due to different
computation constant values.
 If the catheter in use is not available in the drop down list,
there is an option to configure it.

 Keep intermediate thermistor cable connected to CO cable,

if reference temperature is room temperature (see page before)

For internal use only! Please note: The only released document for end-customer training is the
operator manual For internal use only
Page 52 H CX CRM-VA HCC COR