Continuous Cardiac Output Monitoring System Applying Fick’s Principle

A continuous cardiac output monitoring system was developed by the authors applying Fick’s principle using a pulseoximeter, an oximetry thermodilution SwanGanz catheter system and a metabolic gas monitor. To calculate cardiac output by Fick’s method (CFCO), all monitors were connected to a personal computer via serial interfaces. CFCO was compared simultaneously to the cardiac output by a thermodilution method (TDCO).