The use of assumed instead of measured oxygen consumption values introduces large errors in the determination of cardiac output.

We demonstrated the equivalence of CI measurement by transpulmonary thermodilution and the Fick principle in children. This new method may improve hemodynamic monitoring and management in seriously ill children.

Pulse contour analysis is a suitable method to monitor cardiac index over a wide range of indices after surgery for congenital heart disease in pediatric patients. Pulse contour analysis allows online monitoring of cardiac index. The PiCCO device can be recalibrated with the integrated transpulmonary thermodilution within a short time frame.