Determination of cardiac output at rest and during exercise by carbon dioxide rebreathing method in obstructive airway disease

We evaluated the accuracy of the CO2 rebreathing method (CO2rb) for measuring cardiac output at rest and during steady-state exercise in 15 patients (mean +/- SD age, 59.7 +/- 7.5 yr) with obstructive airway disease. At rest, there was a significant correlation between direct Fick and CO2rb methods using measured arterial PCO2 (r = 0.70; p = 0.002), but not with using end-tidal PCO2 (r = 0.38; p = NS). During exercise, there was greater correlation with CO2rb using arterial PCO2 (r = 0.79; p = 0.001) than using end-tidal PCO2 (r = 0.63; p = 0.007) compared with the direct Fick determination. Correlation between the CO2rb and direct Fick methods was greater with moderate air-flow obstruction (n = 6) than with severe airway disease (n = 9), and the CO2rb method was more accurate during exercise than at rest. The CO2rb method using either end-tidal or arterial PCO2 underestimated the direct Fick measurement in 13 of 15 patients at rest, which may reflect inadequate equilibration between alveolar and oxygenated mixed venous PCO2. However, no consistent error was observed during exercise when higher CO2 production and an increased venoarterial PCO2 difference would diminish potential inaccuracies. We concluded that the CO2rb technique is an acceptable method for measuring cardiac output during exercise in patients with moderate and severe obstructive airway disease as long as arterial PCO2 is directly measured rather than estimated from end-tidal PCO2.     

Automated non-invasive measurement of cardiac output by the carbon dioxide rebreathing method: comparisons with dye dilution and thermodilution

The accuracy and reproducibility of indirect measurement of cardiac output at rest by the carbon dioxide rebreathing (indirect Fick) method with an automated respiratory analysis system (Gould 9000IV) were compared with simultaneous measurements made in duplicate by dye dilution and thermodilution in 25 patients having cardiac catheterisation studies. Measurements of cardiac output by the carbon dioxide rebreathing method were not significantly different from those obtained with dye dilution (mean difference -0.3 l/min, SD 0.76, 95% confidence interval -0.7 to 0.1). Thermodilution significantly over-estimated cardiac output by a mean of 2.2 l/min or 39% (SD 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 2.8) compared with the carbon dioxide rebreathing method and significantly overestimated cardiac output by 1.9 l/min or 31% (SD 1.2, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 2.5) compared with dye dilution. The reproducibility of measurements of cardiac output in individual patients was satisfactory with the dye dilution method but was poor with carbon dioxide rebreathing and thermodilution. Indirect measurement of resting cardiac output by the Gould 9000IV automated carbon dioxide rebreathing method is more accurate but the variability inherent with this method requires that multiple measurements be taken for each determination. Measurement of cardiac output by the thermodilution method by a commercially available cardiac output computer was not satisfactory because not only was there considerable variability between repeat measurements but the method also consistently overestimated cardiac output compared with the dye dilution method.     

Automated non-invasive measurement of cardiac output by the carbon dioxide rebreathing method: comparisons with dye dilution and thermodilution.

The accuracy and reproducibility of indirect measurement of cardiac output at rest by the carbon dioxide rebreathing (indirect Fick) method with an automated respiratory analysis system (Gould 9000IV) were compared with simultaneous measurements made in duplicate by dye dilution and thermodilution in 25 patients having cardiac catheterisation studies. Measurements of cardiac output by the carbon dioxide rebreathing method were not significantly different from those obtained with dye dilution (mean difference -0.3 l/min, SD 0.76, 95% confidence interval -0.7 to 0.1). Thermodilution significantly over-estimated cardiac output by a mean of 2.2 l/min or 39% (SD 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 2.8) compared with the carbon dioxide rebreathing method and significantly overestimated cardiac output by 1.9 l/min or 31% (SD 1.2, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 2.5) compared with dye dilution. The reproducibility of measurements of cardiac output in individual patients was satisfactory with the dye dilution method but was poor with carbon dioxide rebreathing and thermodilution. Indirect measurement of resting cardiac output by the Gould 9000IV automated carbon dioxide rebreathing method is more accurate but the variability inherent with this method requires that multiple measurements be taken for each determination. Measurement of cardiac output by the thermodilution method by a commercially available cardiac output computer was not satisfactory because not only was there considerable variability between repeat measurements but the method also consistently overestimated cardiac output compared with the dye dilution method.     

End-tidal estimates of arterial PCO2 for cardiac output measurement by CO2 rebreathing: A study in patients with cystic fibrosis and healthy controls

We set out to determine the effects of various estimates of arterial PCO₂ (PaCO₂) on calculation of cardiac output (Q) by the indirect Fick (CO₂) method in healthy children and children with cystic fibrosis (CF), and to develop a prediction equation for children for PaCO₂, based on end-tidal PCO₂ (PetCO₂). The study had 3 parts: 1) Twenty-three healthy children exercised lightly and moderately while arterialized capillary blood gases and PetCO₂ were measured simultaneously so that a prediction equation for PaCO₂ could be derived from PetCO₂. Cardiac output was measured by CO₂ rebreathing at each workload; different values for PaCO₂ (measured in arterialized capillary blood, end-tidal, and PaCO₂ derived from the Bohr equation assuming normal dead space) were used to calculate Q; 2) our equation PaCO₂ = 0.647 PetCO₂ + 12.4 was tested prospectively to measure Q in 9 healthy children; and 3) cardiac output based on arterialized capillary PaCO₂ was compared with that based on Jones-corrected PetCO₂ during light and moderate exercise in 16 CF patients whose forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) range from normal to 37% predicted. Our results have shown that in health children end tidal based-estimates of PaCO₂ tended to overestimate Q, whereas PaCO₂ values derived by the Bohr equation and assuming normal dead space tended to underestimate Q, compared with Q calculated from directly measured PaCO₂. Our prediction equation resulted in good agreement compared with directly measured PaCO₂ when used to calculate Q (mean difference, +1.3%; range, +9% to −13%). CF patients with little or no airway obstruction had results similar to healthy controls, but those with severe airway obstruction had lower values for Q when PetCO₂ was used instead of directly measured PaCO₂. We conclude that estimates of PaCO₂ from PetCO₂ are not reliable in patients with moderately severe pulmonary disease due to CF. In healthy children, the prediction equation for PaCO₂ from PetCO₂ derived in the present study gives results superior to other bloodless methods currently in use for computation of Q by the indirect Fick (CO₂) method. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1996; 22:154–160. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Automated non-invasive measurement of cardiac output: comparison of electrical bioimpedance and carbon dioxide rebreathing techniques

Two commercial automated, non-invasive systems for estimation of cardiac output were evaluated. Values of cardiac output obtained by electrical bioimpedance cardiography (BoMed NCCOM3 machine) were compared with values derived from an indirect Fick technique that uses carbon dioxide rebreathing (Gould 9000 IV system) during 103 simultaneous measurements made at rest in 19 randomly selected subjects and on exercise in 11 subjects. Cardiac output values obtained with impedance cardiography were significantly correlated with those measured by the indirect Fick method, although there was a wide scatter with over 73% of the readings lying outside the limits defined by the line of identity +/- 20%. This correlation was greatly reduced when stroke volume index was used instead of cardiac output. Indirect Fick results were linearly related to oxygen uptake both at rest and on exercise, while impedance cardiography results did not correlate with oxygen uptake. Impedance cardiography gave consistently lower results for cardiac output than indirect Fick at all levels of exercise. Both machines were easy to use and produced acceptable mean (SE) coefficients of variation (BoMed NCCOM3 7.7 (1.0)%, Gould 9000 IV 10.6 (1.4)%). Further validation is required before either of these machines can be recommended as an alternative to invasive monitoring in clinical practice.     

Non-invasive measurement of cardiac output by the CO2 rebreathing method and its reliability in clinical practice

A Commercially available, non-invasive system for estimation of cardiac output by the CO2-rebreathing method (Sensormedicus MMC4400) was evaluated to determine its reliability in clinical practice. Values of cardiac output were obtained at rest and during mild to moderate bicycle ergometer work in patients with ischemic heart disease or hypertension. Cardiac output measured by the CO2-rebreathing method was significantly correlated with that measured simultaneously by dye dilution or thermodilution methods. Cardiac output values determined by the CO2-rebreathing method were the same as those obtained by the two invasive methods in reproducibility. When cardiac output and Vo2 were normalized for body weight, they were significantly correlated with each other. This result was obtained both by the CO2-rebreathing method, and by the two invasive methods. These results indicate that MMC4400 will provide a value for cardiac output substantially the same as that obtained by using more laborious invasive methods. Clinical use of the CO2-rebreathing method has been limited by technical difficulties. However, the recently developed non-invasive cardiac output measurement system (MMC4400) uses a microcomputer to analyze the results, and the operator can determine the values for cardiac output easily. Furthermore, it simultaneously measures VO2, VCO2 and VE, so the operator can estimate the measured values for cardiac output with background information on ventilatory gas analysis. Determination of cardiac output through the use of the CO2-rebreathing method is suitable particularly for exercise studies, and it is expected to be a useful device, in the near future, for evaluating cardiac function of patients with primary cardiac diseases.     

Peak exercise cardiac power output; a direct indicator of cardiac function strongly predictive of prognosis in chronic heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the prognostic value of peak cardiac power output, measured non-invasively during maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing, against other exercise-derived haemodynamic variables in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. METHOD AND RESULTS: Two hundred and nineteen unselected, consecutive patients with congestive heart failure (166 men, mean (+/-SD) age of 56+/-13 years) who underwent maximal symptom limited cardiopulmonary treadmill exercise testing with non-invasive estimation of cardiac output using carbon dioxide re-breathing techniques, were followed-up for a mean period of 4.64 (4.47--4.82, 95% CI) years. Cardiac power output was calculated from the product of cardiac output and mean arterial blood pressure. All cause mortality was 12.3% (27 deaths). Peak and resting cardiac power output, peak mean arterial blood pressure, peak and resting cardiac output and peak VO(2)were all predictive of outcome on univariate analyses. Peak cardiac power output, either entered continuously or categorically with a cut-off value of 1.96 watts, was the only independent predictor of mortality (P=0.0004 for values < or >1.96 watts and P=0.001 for continuous values) using multivariate analysis. A relative risk ratio of 5.08 (1.94-13.3, 95% CI) was obtained for a cardiac power output <1.96 watts. CONCLUSION: Peak cardiac power output is an independent predictor of mortality that can be measured non-invasively using cardiopulmonary exercise testing. It can give further prognostic power to a peak VO(2)in the assessment of patients with congestive heart failure.     

健康成人二氧化碳通气当量与生理死腔的相关性研究

目的:通过健康成人二氧化碳通气当量(EqCO2)和生理死腔/潮气量(VD/VT)比率的相关性探讨,用无创的方法代替有创的方法研究呼吸生理。方法:28例受试者行心肺运动试验,同步实时测定分钟通气量(VE)和二氧化碳产生量(VCO2),计算出静态二氧化碳通气当量(EqCO2rest)、无氧阈二氧化碳通气当量(EqCO2AT)及最大运动状态下二氧化碳通气当量(EqCO2max)。并分别在运动前及运动高峰时抽取动脉血,根据改良Bohr的公式,得出实际生理死腔/潮气量比率(VD/VT)。结果:正常人静态时EqCO2rest与VD/VTrest有显著相关关系(r=0.601,P=0.011);运动高峰时EqCO2max与VD/VTmax无相关性(r=-0.223,P=0.334),且EqCO2AT和EqCO2max较EqCO2rest明显下降,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001),EqCO2max与EqCO2AT比较也有下降,但差异无统计学意义(P=0.417)。结论:正常成人静息状态下用无创方法测定EqCO2可反映实际VD/VT。     

Ease of noninvasive measurement of cardiac output coupled with peak VO2 determination at rest and during exercise in patients with heart failure

Peak oxygen consumption (VO2) is a powerful prognostic predictor of survival in patients with heart failure (HF) because it provides an indirect assessment of a patient's ability to increase cardiac output (CO). However, many peripheral factors affect VO2. Inert gas rebreathing using low-concentration soluble and insoluble inert gases can derive CO by the Fick principle. The Innocor rebreathing system uses an oxygen-enriched mixture of an inert soluble gas (0.5% nitrous oxide) and an inert insoluble gas (0.1% sulfur hexafluoride) measured by photoacoustic analyzers over a 5-breath interval. The practicality of this device in measuring CO and VO2 during exercise was assessed in patients with HF. Ninety-two consecutive exercise tests were prospectively performed in 88 patients with HF using the Innocor system. Incremental bicycle exercise was performed with CO measurements at rest, at 50 W, and at peak exercise. The mean age of the 68 men and 20 women was 54 +/- 13 years; 33% had coronary artery disease, and 67% had dilated cardiomyopathy. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 24 +/- 9%. Patients were able to rapidly learn the rebreathing technique and easily integrate it into the exercise protocol. Eighty-six percent of the tests had successful measurement of metabolic and cardiac output data. Mean CO at rest was 3.5 +/- 1.1 L/min and increased to 7.2 +/- 2.7 L/min. Mean peak VO2 was 12.6 +/- 4.7 ml/kg/min. A significant linear correlation was observed between peak VO2 and peak CO (r = 0.64, p <0.0001). In conclusion, combined metabolic stress testing with inert gas rebreathing can be easily performed in patients with HF.     

Atrial natriuretic factor, cardiac volumes and filling pressures during exercise in congestive heart failure.

To study the mechanism of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) release in heart failure, we measured plasma ANF concentrations, cardiac volumes and filling pressures at rest and during three graded exercise levels (E1, E2, E3) in six male patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and compared them with 13 normal male subjects. At rest, ANF concentrations were sixfold higher in patients with CHF than in normal subjects (at rest: 53 +/- 12 vs 8 +/- 1 pmol.l-1; P less than 0.02). End-systolic ventricular volumes were increased threefold in patients with CHF (P less than 0.02) despite normal mean central venous pressure, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP). A positive correlation was found between end-systolic ventricular volumes and plasma ANF (r = 0.93, P less than 0.001). During exercise, ANF rose by 120% over basal values both in patients with CHF and in normal subjects (P less than 0.01). Volumes higher than normal in patients with CHF increased further at E2 (P less than 0.05) in contrast to a decrease of systolic volumes recorded in normal subjects (P less than 0.05). Filling pressures rising abnormally in patients with CHF correlated with plasma ANF during exercise (r = 0.53, P less than 0.02 for PAP; r = 0.51, P less than 0.05 for PWP). In conclusion, our data suggest that ANF release in CHF is regulated at rest by cardiac volumes when filling pressures are still normal. During exercise, ANF release is not impaired in CHF with normal rest filling pressures and is regulated during exercise by left filling pressures.     

Automated non-invasive measurement of cardiac output: comparison of electrical bioimpedance and carbon dioxide rebreathing techniques.

Two commercial automated, non-invasive systems for estimation of cardiac output were evaluated. Values of cardiac output obtained by electrical bioimpedance cardiography (BoMed NCCOM3 machine) were compared with values derived from an indirect Fick technique that uses carbon dioxide rebreathing (Gould 9000 IV system) during 103 simultaneous measurements made at rest in 19 randomly selected subjects and on exercise in 11 subjects. Cardiac output values obtained with impedance cardiography were significantly correlated with those measured by the indirect Fick method, although there was a wide scatter with over 73% of the readings lying outside the limits defined by the line of identity +/- 20%. This correlation was greatly reduced when stroke volume index was used instead of cardiac output. Indirect Fick results were linearly related to oxygen uptake both at rest and on exercise, while impedance cardiography results did not correlate with oxygen uptake. Impedance cardiography gave consistently lower results for cardiac output than indirect Fick at all levels of exercise. Both machines were easy to use and produced acceptable mean (SE) coefficients of variation (BoMed NCCOM3 7.7 (1.0)%, Gould 9000 IV 10.6 (1.4)%). Further validation is required before either of these machines can be recommended as an alternative to invasive monitoring in clinical practice.     

克山病患者心输出量无创伤法测定的对比研究

目的掌握克山病患者心输出量的变化特点，加强克山病防治。方法将１１４名克山病患者按病情分成潜在型、慢型两组，应用阻抗心动图、超声心动图测定心排出量。结果阻抗心动图法测得心搏出量（ＳＶ），潜在型（７９．１９±１６．９３）ｍｌ／次，慢型（６６．１０±１９．４５）ｍｌ／次；超声心动图法测得ＳＶ，潜在型（５１．０４±１５．７０）ｍｌ／次，慢型（４１．３０±１４．７１）ｍｌ／次。结论２种无创伤性心输出量测定结果是一致的，进一步证实克山病是低搏出量心肌病，为克山病心功不全早期诊断提供了新的无创性方法。     

Regulatory peptides in the plasma of patients with chronic cardiac failure at rest and during exercise.

The levels of several regulatory peptides were measured in peripheral plasma samples from individuals with chronic cardiac failure (CCF) and matched controls in both the resting state and during a short period of maximal exercise. Basal levels of noradrenaline (NA; 705 +/- 114 vs 195 +/- 54 ng.l-1; mean +/- SEM; P < 0.05), plasma renin activity (PRA; 12.9 +/- 2.9 vs 2.1 +/- 0.3 ng AI ml-1.h-1; P < 0.05) and aldosterone (ALDO; 325 +/- 49 vs 87 +/- 8 ng.l-1; P < 0.05) were all raised in the patients with CCF, and increased further with exercise. Basal circulating levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were also significantly higher in the CCF group compared to controls (136 +/- 35 vs 27 +/- 5 ng.l-1; P < 0.01), but the response to exercise was attenuated, so that at peak exercise, no significant difference was observed. Basal circulating levels of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) (29 +/- 4 vs 40 +/- 4 ng.l-1; P < 0.05) and secretin (13 +/- 1 vs 32 +/- 4 ng.l-1; P < 0.05) were significantly lower in the CCF group when compared to controls and there was no significant change in the levels of either peptide with exercise. Levels of neurokinin A (NKA), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and neurotensin (NT) were somewhat higher in patients, but the differences were not significant, and there were no changes during exercise. There were also no significant differences in the levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), insulin or glucagon in either experimental group both before and during exercise. We have therefore identified different circulating levels of certain regulatory peptides in patients with CCF, but the significance of these remains unclear.     

Rapid assessment of ventilation by measurement of carbon dioxide elimination during high-frequency ventilation of kittens

Monitoring of the effectiveness of ventilation is a significant problem during high-frequency ventilation (HFV). The time necessary to achieve equilibrium of the arterial tension of carbon dioxide (Paco2) following step changes in ventilation is appreciable, because of large body stores of CO2. Waiting for Paco2 to reach equilibrium is not only time-consuming but a potentially dangerous means of monitoring ventilator adjustments during HFV. Five kittens of mean +/- SD 1,082 +/- 383 gm weight were studied during HFV, both with normal lungs and lungs injured by saline lavage-induced surfactant depletion. The transcutaneous tension of carbon dioxide (Ptcco2) was monitored continuously to determine the time required to achieve equilibrium of Paco2 following a step change in ventilation. The rate of pulmonary CO2 elimination (VECO2) was measured immediately before and immediately after (less than 12 sec) step changes in ventilation and was used to predict the change in Paco2 achieved once equilibrium was reestablished. With normal lungs, equilibration time following step changes in ventilation was found to be approximately 20 minutes. After step decreases in ventilation of the injured lung, achieving equilibrium state took significantly longer, approximately 30 minutes. The Paco2 predicted was significantly related to the change in Paco2 achieved at equilibrium for both normal and injured lung studies. We concluded that direct monitoring of VECO2 during HFV may be a useful clinical monitoring technique, allowing rapid and accurate assessment of the efficiency of ventilation following step changes in ventilation and potentially assisting in optimizing ventilator settings.