Pulmonary artery blood temperature and the measurement of cardiac output by thermodilution

Thermodilution cardiac output measurement assumes that the temperature within the pulmonary artery is stable during the measurement period. This may not be achieved in clinical practice because of temperature changes that are not solely produced by the thermal indicator. Such temperature changes constitute thermal noise. Thermal noise and how it may interfere with measurement is discussed with reference to both the injectate and the thermal filament methods of thermodilution cardiac output measurement.