Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of a thoracic electric bioimpedance (TEB) method as a monitor in patients with acute myocardial infarction whose pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) was normal. Methods: Thirty-six patients with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction were included. Thoracic fluid content (TFC) and PCWP were measured with a TEB method and a pulmonary artery catheter, respectively. Cardiac index (CI) was also measured with a TEB method and a conventional thermodilution (TD) method simultaneously. The correlation between TFC and PCWP, CI measured with both methods, TFC and CI, PCWP and CI, were examined. Results: TFC was correlated with PCWP (r = 0.45, P = 0.0036). CI measured with both methods had a positive correlation (r = 0.68, P = 0.000057) and Bland-Altman plot yielded a mean ±2SD of the difference of CIs, that was −0.10±1.26 l·min−1·m−2. TFC had no significant correlation with CI. PCWP was inversely correlated with CI (r =−0.49, P = 0.0067 with CI measured with a TEB method and r =−0.47, P = 0.0096 with CI measured with a TD method). Conclusions: It was suggested that the TEB method could reflect pulmonary fluid states and cardiac output in patients with acute myocardial infarction whose PCWP was normal. This method could be a choice as a monitor in this group of patients.
