Assessment of lithium dilution cardiac output as a technique for measurement of cardiac output in dogs

Abstract

The LiDCO technique is a suitable substitute for TDCO to measure cardiac output in dogs. Use of LiDCO eliminates the need for catheterization of a pulmonary artery and could increase use of cardiac output monitoring, which may improve management of cardiovascularly unstable animals.

Comparison between two methods for cardiac output measurement in propofol‐anesthetized dogs: thermodilution and Doppler

“…Quandt et al (1998), in dogs anesthetized with a single dose of propofol and using thermodilution, did not observe depressant effects of this drug on CO and showed stability of CO. Ilkiw & Pascoe (2003), in a study with cats anesthetized with a propofol infusion, concluded that this drug alone provided cardiopulmonary stability. Although Mason et al (2001) states that higher and lower CO influences the degree of agreement between methods, cardiac output values were stable in this study, thus the influence of the level of CO on the degree of agreement could not be determined.…”

Continuous cardiac output monitoring via arterial pressure waveform analysis following severe hemorrhagic shock in dogs*

“…The potential for accumulation of lithium, especially during diminished CO, also limits the total number of time points we could assess through the course of the experiment. We did not use other methods for determining CO (e.g., thermodilution, partial CO 2 rebreathing); however, lithium dilution CO has been validated in multiple species, including dogs, and found to be more precise than thermodilution when compared with electromagnetic flowmetry in pigs (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Another concern is the potential for interference or damping of the arterial pressure waveform secondary to problems with the arterial catheter or transducer.…”

“…The lithium dilution technique produces precise and accurate values of cardiac output and has been validated in multiple species, including dogs (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Similar to other indicator dilution techniques (cold saline, indocyanine green), CO is determined at a single point in time.…”

Comparison of arterial pressure waveform analysis with the lithium dilution technique to monitor cardiac output in anesthetized dogs

“…This technique is now well established and has been validated in humans, 3,4 horses, 5,6 pigs, 7 and dogs. 8 The main advantages of the LiDCO system over thermodilution are the avoidance of pulmonary artery catheterization with its associated hazards and simpler instrumentation. Furthermore, a catheterized peripheral vein can be used to inject the lithium indicator, 9,10 eliminating the need for central venous catheterization in patients that do not warrant it.…”