Different injection techniques in the assessment of central haemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis

AbstractObjective. Patients with cirrhosis often present with an abnormal distribution of blood volume with a reduced central blood volume (CBV) and central circulation time (CCT). In this group of patients it is important to determine the central haemodynamics as accurately as possible. The purpose of the present study was to compare an alternative injection technique by injecting technetium-labelled human serum albumin (99mTc-HSA) from a deposit within the catheter lumen with the conventional injection technique by injecting iodine-labelled human serum albumin (125I-HSA) directly from a syringe. Materials and methods. In 192 patients with cirrhosis, CCT, CBV, and cardiac output (CO) were determined according to kinetic principles. Injection of the two radiolabelled HSA were performed simultaneously and followed by arterial blood sampling every second for the first minute. Results. CCT was significantly shorter, and CO and CBV were significantly lower when determined by the alternative catheter deposit i...