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Stroke volume and cardiac output evaluation by electrical cardiometry: accuracy and reference nomograms in hemodynamically stable preterm neonates

Journal of Perinatology volume 36, pages 748–752 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate the accuracy of electrical cardiometry (EC) to measure stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) and to provide gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW)-based reference data for SV and CO in hemodynamically stable preterm neonates.

Study Design:

Prospective observational blinded study. Paired measurements of SV and CO on stable preterm infants without any hemodynamic compromise were carried out using EC (SVEC) and echocardiography (SVECHO).

Results:

Seventy-nine preterm neonates (mean GA: 31±3.2 weeks) were enrolled. A good correlation was found for SV (r=0.743; P<0.0001) and CO (r=0.7; P<0.0001) measured by EC and echocardiography. These correlations remained significant after adjusting for GA, patent ductus arteriosus and type of respiratory support (SV: St.β=0.48, P<0.0001 and CO: St.β=0.69, P<0.0001). Mean biases (and variabilities) were −1.1 (from 0.7 to −2.9) ml and −0.21 (from 0.15 to −0.55) l min−1 for SV and CO, respectively. Local regression shows a tendency for EC to overestimate SV and CO especially at higher values (at about >2 ml and >0.4 l min−1, respectively). Coefficient of variation of SV was 48.9% and 52%, for EC and echocardiography. SV and CO rose with increasing GA and BW following an exponential equation (R2>0.8).

Conclusion:

Measuring SV and CO with EC in hemodynamically stable preterm infants shows good correlation and variability similar to that of echocardiography. A trend to overestimation exists at highest values, but it is unlikely to be clinically significant. Reference GA and BW-based nomograms for SV and CO are provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiac ICU, “Marie Lannelongue” Surgical Center, South Paris University Hospitals, Paris, France

    A Boet & S Demontoux

  2. Division of Paediatrics and Neonatal Critical Care, APHP, South Paris University Hospitals, “A. Beclere” Medical Center, Paris, France

    A Boet, G Jourdain & D De Luca

  3. Institute of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    D De Luca

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  1. A Boet
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  2. G Jourdain
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Correspondence to A Boet.

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Boet, A., Jourdain, G., Demontoux, S. et al. Stroke volume and cardiac output evaluation by electrical cardiometry: accuracy and reference nomograms in hemodynamically stable preterm neonates. J Perinatol 36, 748–752 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.65

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