What is Thermodilution catheter?

The thermodilution technique uses a special thermistor-tipped catheter (Swan-Ganz catheter) that is inserted from a peripheral vein into the pulmonary artery. A cold saline solution of known temperature and volume is injected into the right atrium from a proximal catheter port.

What does Thermodilution measure?

Thermodilution is the most popular dilution method used for measuring cardiac output (CO) in the clinical setting. The information obtained during this procedure is relevant in the process of clinical decision making in patients with critical illness, valvular heart disease, and congestive heart failure.

What is thermodilution cardiac output?

What does Thermodilution mean?

Medical Definition of thermodilution : relating to or being a method of determining cardiac output by measurement of the change in temperature in the bloodstream after injecting a measured amount of cool fluid (as saline)

What is a Swan-Ganz catheter used for?

Swan-Ganz catheterization (also called right heart catheterization or pulmonary artery catheterization) is the passing of a thin tube (catheter) into the right side of the heart and the arteries leading to the lungs. It is done to monitor the heart’s function and blood flow and pressures in and around the heart.

How does a Swan-Ganz work?

What are three indications for placement of a Swan-Ganz catheter?

Indications for insertion of a PA catheter

  • Cardiac output measurement especially in a patient with arrhythmia or aortic balloon pump, where PiCCO cant be used.
  • Unequal right and left ventricular failure.
  • Complex haemodynamic instability, some combination of obstructive, distributive, cardiogenic and hypovolemic shock.

What does a Swan Ganz do?

How does Swan Ganz work?

The procedure involves the insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) into the right side of the heart and into the arteries that lead to the lungs. The PAC has a balloon tip. The balloon allows the catheter to be carried by the flow of your blood to the place in your heart where it’ll be used.

What does a Swan-Ganz measure?

The Swan-Ganz procedure can measure the pressure of the blood flow through the right side of the heart (right atrium and right ventricle) as well as pressures in the pulmonary artery and the filling pressure or wedge pressure of the left atrium.