Objective.Pediatric patients undergoing medical procedures often grapple with preoperative anxiety, which can impact postoperative outcomes. While healthcare providers subjectively assess anxiety, objective quantification tools remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate two objective measures-cardiac index (CI) and heart rate (HR) in comparison with validated subjective assessments, the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) and the numeric rating scale (NRS).Approach.In this prospective, observational cohort study, children ages 5-17 undergoing ambulatory endoscopy under general anesthesia underwent simultaneous measurement of objective and subjective measures at various time points: baseline, intravenous placement, two-minutes post-IV placement, when departing the preoperative bay, and one-minute prior to anesthesia induction.Main Results.Of the 86 enrolled patients, 77 had analyzable CI data and were included in the analysis. The median age was 15 years (interquartile range 13, 16), 55% were female, and most were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status 2 (64%), and had previous endoscopies (53%). HR and CI correlated overall (r= 0.65, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.69;p< 0.001), as did NRS and mYPAS (r= 0.39, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.44;p< 0.001). The correlation between HR and CI was stronger with NRS (r= 0.24, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.29;p< 0.001; andr= 0.13, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.19;p< 0.001, respectively) than with mYPAS (r= 0.06, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.11;p= 0.046; andr= 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.14;p= 0.006, respectively). The correlation with mYPAS for both HR and CI varied significantly in both direction and magnitude across the different time points.Significance.A modest yet discernable correlation exists between objective measures (HR and CI) and established subjective anxiety assessments.

The study objective was to determine whether adequately delivered bilateral remote ischemic preconditioning is cardioprotective in young children undergoing surgery for 2 common congenital heart defects with or without cyanosis.

We performed a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial at 2 centers in the United Kingdom. Children aged 3 to 36 months undergoing tetralogy of Fallot repair or ventricular septal defect closure were randomized 1:1 to receive bilateral preconditioning or sham intervention. Participants were followed up until hospital discharge or 30 days. The primary outcome was area under the curve for high-sensitivity troponin-T in the first 24 hours after surgery, analyzed by intention-to-treat. Right atrial biopsies were obtained in selected participants.

Between October 2016 and December 2020, 120 eligible children were randomized to receive bilateral preconditioning (n = 60) or sham intervention (n = 60). The primary outcome, area under the curve for high-sensitivity troponin-T, was higher in the preconditioning group (mean: 70.0 ± 50.9 μg/L/h, n = 56) than in controls (mean: 55.6 ± 30.1 μg/L/h, n = 58) (mean difference, 13.2 μg/L/h; 95% CI, 0.5-25.8; P = .04). Subgroup analyses did not show a differential treatment effect by oxygen saturations (pinteraction = .25), but there was evidence of a differential effect by underlying defect (pinteraction = .04). Secondary outcomes and myocardial metabolism, quantified in atrial biopsies, were not different between randomized groups.

Bilateral remote ischemic preconditioning does not attenuate myocardial injury in children undergoing surgical repair for congenital heart defects, and there was evidence of potential harm in unstented tetralogy of Fallot. The routine use of remote ischemic preconditioning cannot be recommended for myocardial protection during pediatric cardiac surgery.

Cardiac output monitoring enables physiology-directed management of critically ill children and aids in the early detection of clinical deterioration. Multiple invasive techniques have been developed and have demonstrated ability to improve clinical outcomes. However, all require invasive arterial or venous catheters, with associated risks of infection, thrombosis and vascular injury. Non-invasive monitoring of cardiac output and fluid responsiveness in infants and children is an active area of interest and several proven techniques are available. Novel non-invasive cardiac output monitors offer a promising alternative to echocardiography and have proven their ability to influence clinical practice. Assessment of perfusion remains a challenge; however, technologies such as near-infrared spectroscopy and photoplethysmography may prove valuable clinical adjuncts in the future.

While most VVI pacemakers in bradycardic patients are set to a low limit of 60/min, the optimal lower limit rate for VVI pacemakers in atrial fibrillation has not been established. Although an increase in heart rate within the normal range in the setting of a VVI pacemaker might be expected to lead to an increase in cardiac output with the shortening of the diastolic time, the changes in cardiac output at different pacemaker settings have not been fully clarified.

We included 11 patients with bradycardic atrial fibrillation who had VVI pacemakers implanted. Stroke volume was measured using the electrical cardiometry method (AESCULONⓇ mini; Osypka Medical) without pacing and at ventricular pacings of 60, 70, 80, and 90/min.

Stroke volume decreased stepwise at ventricular pacing rates of 60, 70, 80, and 90/min (63.6 ± 11.2, 61.9 ± 10.6, 59.3 ± 12.2, and 57.5 ± 12.2 mL, p < .001), but cardiac output increased (3.81 ± 0.67, 4.33 ± 0.74, 4.74 ± 0.97, and 5.17 ± 1.09 L/min, p < .001). The rate of increase in cardiac output at a pacing rate of 70/min compared to 60/min correlated with left ventricular end-systolic volume (r = 0.711, p = .014).

Cardiac output increased at a pacing rate of 70 compared to 60 in bradycardic atrial fibrillation patients, and the rate of increase in cardiac output was greater in those with larger left ventricular end-systolic volume.

Low cardiac output following cardiac surgery is a major determinant of outcome that may be improved by early detection, yet there are no widely accepted methods for its measurement in young children. We evaluated the feasibility of the routine use of electrical velocimetry, a non-invasive technique providing continuous measurement of cardiac output, in infants in the early postoperative period.

With ethical approval and parental consent, infants undergoing cardiac surgery were recruited. The ICON electrical velocimetry monitor was attached on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and remained for up to 24h.

A total of 15 infants were recruited, median age 3 months (interquartile range (IQR) 0.5-7.5) and weight 4.8kg (IQR 3.9-7.1), undergoing various operations. Cardiac index had a weak correlation with arterial lactate (r=-0.24, p=0.02) and no correlation with blood pressure, central venous pressure or arteriovenous oxygen difference. Data were recorded for a median of 19h (range 5-24), with lead detachment or movement artefact the most common causes of data loss. There was marked minute-to-minute variability, with 25% of consecutive measurements having >5% variability.

Cardiac index measured by electrical velocimetry in infants in the early postoperative period is impaired by frequent data loss and marked intrapatient variability. Our feasibility study suggests that it is unsuitable for use as a routine monitoring tool in the setting of postsurgical ICU care.

Patent ductus arteriosus closure by catheter-based interventions has become the preferred therapeutic choice. However, hemodynamic perturbances associated to this procedure have not yet been investigated. This study sought to examine the on-site hemodynamic impact caused by the procedure in preterm neonates. In this study, hemodynamic monitoring was obtained in a non-invasive way using electrical cardiometry in five preterm infants who underwent percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus closing at ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda of Milan. All five infants underwent successful transcatheter closures. All patients experienced immediate hemodynamic changes upon ductal closing. Significative modifications occurred mainly in heart contractility, cardiac output, and stroke volume. In three cases, there was also a significative increase of systemic vascular resistance which persisted for 4 h after closing. While in two cases they spontaneously reduced with an amelioration of cardiac output and contractility, in the other case they were persistently high, associated with an hypertensive crisis and a progressive reduction of cardiac functions. For these reasons, milrinone was started and hemodynamic parameters returned normal in about 3 h, so therapy was discontinued.   Conclusions: Our single-center, prospective, consecutive, case series demonstrated hemodynamic aberrations due to sudden closure of a patent ductus arteriosus. Moreover, post procedural hemodynamic monitoring is important to precociously detect possible cardiac impairment and start an adequate therapy. What is Known: • It has previously suggested a temporarily impairment in cardiac output following patent ductus arteriosus closing. • Little is known about the other hemodynamic parameters during the procedure and how they change in the next hours according to the new hemodynamic status. What is New: • The persistence of increased systemic vascular resistance after percutaneous closure of ductus arteriosus could suggest the occurrence of hemodynamic complications. • Electrical cardiometry was useful to early detect postoperative hemodynamic changes.

The assessment of fluid responsiveness is important in the management of shock but conventional methods of assessing fluid responsiveness are often inaccurate. Our study aims to evaluate changes in objective hemodynamic parameters as measured using electrical cardiometry (ICON® monitor) following the fluid bolus in children presenting with shock and to evaluate whether any specific hemodynamic parameter can best predict fluid responsiveness among children with shock.

We conducted a prospective observational study in children presenting with shock to our emergency department between June 2020 and March 2021. We collected the parameters such as heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and hemodynamic data such as cardiac output CO), cardiac index (CI), index of contractility (ICON), stroke volume (SV), stroke index (SI), corrected flow time (FTC), systolic time ratio (STR), variation of index of contractility (VIC), stroke volume variation (SVV), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and thoracic fluid content (TFC) using the ICON monitor before and after fluid bolus (FB). We assessed percent change (Δ) and used paired-sample Student's t-test to compare pre- and post-hemodynamic data and Mann-Whitney U-test to compare fluid responders and non-responders. P-Values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

We recorded 42 fluid interventions in 40 patients during our study period. The median IQR age was 10.56 (4.8, 14.8) years with male/female ratio (1.2:1). There was a significant decrease in ΔRR [-1.61 (-14.8, 0); p = 0.012], ΔDBP [-5.5 (-14.4, 8); p = 0.027], ΔMAP [-2.2 (-11, 2); p = 0.018], ΔSVR [-5.8 (-20, 5.2); p = 0.025], and ΔSTR [-8.39 (-21, 3); p = 0.001] and significant increase in ΔTFC [6.2 (3.5, 11.4); p = 0.01] following FB. We defined fluid responders by an increase in SV by ≥10% after a single FB of 20 ml/kg crystalloid. Receiver operating curve analysis revealed that among all the parameters, 15% change in ICON had an excellent AUC (0.85) for the fluid responsiveness.

Our study showed significant changes in objective hemodynamic parameters, such as SVR, STR, and TFC following FB in children presenting with shock. A 15% change in ICON had an excellent predictive performance for the fluid responsiveness among our cohort of pediatric shock.

There are no studies examining interventricular (VV) delay optimization by an electrical cardiometry method in relation to subsequent cardiac function in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) -implanted patients. This study aimed to compare the VV delay in CRT-implanted patients by the dp/dt and electrical cardiometry and to examine the optimization of VV delay and improvement of cardiac function. We examined 19 consecutive CRT-implanted patients. The protocol included biventricular stimulation with either simultaneous or sequential pacing, and we evaluated systolic volume (SV) using an electrical cardiometry and the dp/dt of the left ventricle. The optimal VV delay was determined by the maximum SV using the electrical cardiometry. Two groups were defined, those whose increase in SV was at or above the median and those whose SV increase was below the median; changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The correlation between the VV delay optimized by the electrical cardiometry and dp/dt methods was high (R = 0.61, P = 0.006). Compared to the baseline SV (43.4 mL), the SV increased to 47.8 mL with simultaneous biventricular pacing (versus baseline P = 0.008) and further increased to 49.8 mL with optimized VV delay (versus simultaneous biventricular pacing P = 0.020). LVEF after 6 months significantly improved in the above-median SV increase group (37.6 versus 28.2%, P = 0.041), but not in the below-median SV increase group (26.5 versus 26.5%, P = 0.985). In conclusion, the optimal VV delay by electrical cardiometry method was almost concordant with that by the dp/dt method. Cardiac function significantly improved in the group with the above-median SV increase.

Establishing the Fontan circulation has led to improved survival in patients born with complex congenital heart diseases. Despite early success, the long-term course of Fontan patients is complicated by multi-organ dysfunction, mainly due to a combination of low resting and blunted exercise-augmented cardiac output as well as elevated central venous (Fontan) pressure. Similarly, despite absolute hemodynamic differences compared to the normal population with biventricular circulation, the "normal" ranges of hemodynamic parameters specific to age-appropriate Fontan circulation have not been well defined. With the ever-increasing population of patients requiring Fontan correction, it is of utmost importance that an acceptable range of hemodynamics in this highly complex patient cohort is better defined.

Multiple publications have described hemodynamic limitations and potential management options in patients with Fontan circulation; however, an acceptable range of hemodynamic parameters in this patient population has not been well defined. Identification of "normal" hemodynamic parameters among patients with Fontan circulation will allow physicians to more objectively define indications for intervention, which is a necessary first step to eliminate institutional and regional heterogeneity in Fontan management and potentially improve long-term clinical outcomes.

Background: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we compared the standard del Nido cardioplegia solution (SDN) with the modified del Nido cardioplegia solution (MDN) in which the base solution was the plain Ringer solution. Methods: A total of 80 patients aged < 12 years undergoing intracardiac repair of Tetralogy of Fallot were randomized into SDN (n = 39) or MDN (n = 41) groups. The primary outcome was a change in cardiac index (CI). Secondary outcomes were ventricular arrhythmias after the release of aortic-cross clamp, postoperative inotropic score (IS), time to peripheral rewarming, duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and hospital length of stay, and electron microscopic differences between the 2 groups. Cardiac Troponin-I, inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-L (IL-6) were measured. Results: Applying the noninferiority confidence interval approach, the difference between the changes in CI between the 2 groups was -0.093 L/min/m2 (95% CI: -0.46-0.27 L/min/m2) which was within the noninferiority threshold of -0.5 indicating that CI was similar in both SDN and MDN. Ventricular arrhythmias postclamp release (P = .91), IS (P = .09), duration of mechanical ventilation (P = .27), ICU length of stay (P = .50), hospital length of stay (P = .57), IL-6 (P = .19), TNF-α (P = .17), Troponin-I (P = .15), electron microscopy changes (P > .05) were not different between groups. Conclusion: MDN was shown to be noninferior to the SDN cardioplegia in terms of preservation of cardiac index. In addition, other metrics indicative of myocardial protection were similar between groups. In developing nations where SDN is not available or is expensive, MDN cardioplegia is an acceptable alternative.

Electrical biosensing technology (EBT) is an umbrella term for non-invasive technology utilizing the body's fluctuating resistance to electrical current flow to estimate cardiac output. Monitoring cardiac output in neonates may allow for timely recognition of hemodynamic compromise and allow for prompt therapy, thereby mitigating adverse outcomes. For a new technology to be safely used in the clinical environment for therapeutic decisions, it must be proven to be accurate, precise and be able to track temporal changes. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and analyze studies that describe the accuracy, precision, and trending ability of EBT to non-invasively monitor Left ventricular cardiac output and/or stroke volume in neonates.

A qualitative systematic review was performed. Studies were identified from PubMed NCBI, SCOPUS, and EBSCOHost up to November 2021, where EBT technologies were analyzed in neonates, in comparison to a reference technology. Outcome measures were bias, limits of agreement, percentage error for agreement studies and data from 4-quadrant and polar plots for trending studies. Effect direction plots were used to present results.

Fifteen neonatal studies were identified, 14 for agreement and 1 for trending analysis. Only thoracic electrical biosensing technology (TEBT), with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) as the comparator, studies were available for analyzes. High heterogeneity existed between studies. An equal number of studies showed over- and underestimation of left ventricular output parameters. All studies showed small bias, wide limits of agreement, with most studies having a percentage error >30%. Sub-analyses for respiratory support mode, cardiac anomalies and type of technology showed similar results. The single trending study showed poor concordance, high angular bias, and poor angular concordance.

Overall, TEBT shows reasonable accuracy, poor precision, and non-interchangeability with TTE. However, high heterogeneity hampered proper analysis. TEBT should be used with caution in the neonatal population for monitoring and determining therapeutic interventions. The use of TEBT trend monitoring has not been sufficiently studied and requires further evaluation in future trials.

To systematically review and meta-analyze the validity of electrical bioimpedance-based noninvasive cardiac output monitoring in pediatrics compared with standard methods such as thermodilution and echocardiography.

Systematic searches were conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE (2000-2019).

Method-comparison studies of transthoracic electrical velocimetry or whole body electrical bioimpedance versus standard cardiac output monitoring methods in children (0-18 yr old) were included.

Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Mean differences of cardiac output, stroke volume, or cardiac index measurements were pooled using a random-effects model (R Core Team, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, 2019). Bland-Altman statistics assessing agreement between devices and author conclusions about inferiority/noninferiority were extracted.

Twenty-nine of 649 identified studies were included in the qualitative analysis, and 25 studies in the meta-analyses. No significant difference was found between means of cardiac output, stroke volume, and cardiac index measurements, except in exclusively neonatal/infant studies reporting stroke volume (mean difference, 1.00 mL; 95% CI, 0.23-1.77). Median percentage error in child/adolescent studies approached acceptability (percentage error less than or equal to 30%) for cardiac output in L/min (31%; range, 13-158%) and stroke volume in mL (26%; range, 14-27%), but not in neonatal/infant studies (45%; range, 29-53% and 45%; range, 28-70%, respectively). Twenty of 29 studies concluded that transthoracic electrical velocimetry/whole body electrical bioimpedance was noninferior. Transthoracic electrical velocimetry was considered inferior in six of nine studies with heterogeneous congenital heart disease populations.

The meta-analyses demonstrated no significant difference between means of compared devices (except in neonatal stroke volume studies). The wide range of percentage error reported may be due to heterogeneity of study designs, devices, and populations included. Transthoracic electrical velocimetry/whole body electrical bioimpedance may be acceptable for use in child/adolescent populations, but validity in neonates and congenital heart disease patients remains uncertain. Larger studies in specific clinical contexts with standardized methodologies are required.

Infants undergoing general anaesthesia have an increased risk of severe respiratory and cardiovascular critical events. Awake caudal anaesthesia is an alternative for small infants undergoing minor lower abdominal surgery. While clinical experience has shown stable intra-operative haemodynamic conditions, there are no studies evaluating systemic and regional cerebral perfusion during such a procedure.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of awake caudal anaesthesia on systemic and regional cerebral perfusion in small infants.

A prospective observational cohort study.

Clinic of Anaesthesiology, University Children's Hospital, between November 2017 and June 2018.

Twenty small infants (postmenstrual age 36 to 54 weeks, weight 1800 to 5700 g) scheduled for lower abdominal surgery under awake caudal anaesthesia were enrolled in this study.

Standard monitoring was expanded to include cardiac index using electrical velocimetry and regional cerebral oxygen saturation using near infrared spectroscopy. The caudal block was performed with 0.3% ropivacaine 1 ml kg Hypotension was defined as mean arterial blood pressure (BP) less than 35 mmHg and regional cerebral desaturation as regional cerebral oxygen saturation less than 80% of baseline.

Mean arterial BP, cardiac index and regional cerebral oxygen saturation parameters under awake caudal anaesthesia.

Mean arterial BP, cardiac index and regional cerebral oxygen saturation remained above the predefined lower limits. No episodes of hypotension or regional cerebral desaturation were observed. Operation time was 35 ± 13 (range 20 to 71) min. The infants were discharged to the neonatal ward after the end of surgery, and milk was fed 22 ± 15 (range 6 to 55) min thereafter. Five preterm infants experienced self-limiting episodes of apnoea intra-operatively.

The current study shows that awake caudal anaesthesia does not impair systemic and regional cerebral perfusion in small infants.

German registry of clinical studies (DRKS-ID: 800015742).

Delay in closure of ductus arteriosus in postnatal life may lead to serious consequences and complications in an extremely premature neonate secondary to hemodynamic alterations in regional blood flow pattern in various organs. Despite the widespread recognition amongst neonatologists to identify a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) early in the postnatal course, there is lack of consensus in its definition and thus the threshold to initiate treatment. Echocardiographic assessment of PDA shunt size and volume combined with neonatologists' impression of clinical significance is most frequently used to determine the need for treatment of PDA. Common clinical signs of hsPDA utilized as surrogate for decreased tissue perfusion may lag behind early echocardiographic signs. Although echocardiogram allows direct assessment of PDA shunt and hemodynamic alterations in the heart, it is limited by dependence on pediatric cardiologist availability, interobserver variation and isolated time point assessment. Electrical cardiometry (EC) is a non-invasive continuous real time measurement of cardiac output by applying changes in thoracic electrical impedance. EC has been validated in preterm newborns by concomitant transthoracic echocardiogram assessments and may be beneficial in studying changes in cardiac output in premature newborns with hsPDA. Alterations in perfusion index derived from continuous pulse oximetry monitoring has been used to study changes in cardiac performance and tissue perfusion in infants with PDA. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used to objectively and continuously assess variations in renal, mesenteric, and cerebral oxygen saturation and thus perfusion changes due to diastolic vascular steal from hsPDA in preterm neonates. Doppler ultrasound studies measuring resistive indices in cerebral circulation indicate disturbance in cerebral perfusion secondary to ductal steal. With recent trends of change in practice toward less intervention in care of preterm newborn, treatment strategy needs to be targeted for select preterm population most vulnerable to adverse hemodynamic effects of PDA. Integration of these novel ways of hemodynamic and tissue perfusion assessment in routine clinical care may help mitigate the challenges in defining and targeting treatment of hsPDA thereby improving outcomes in extremely premature neonates.

Myocardial protection against ischaemic-reperfusion injury is a key determinant of heart function and outcome following cardiac surgery in children. However, with current strategies, myocardial injury occurs routinely following aortic cross-clamping, as demonstrated by the ubiquitous rise in circulating troponin. Remote ischaemic preconditioning, the application of brief, non-lethal cycles of ischaemia and reperfusion to a distant organ or tissue, is a simple, low-risk and readily available technique which may improve myocardial protection. The Bilateral Remote Ischaemic Conditioning in Children (BRICC) trial will assess whether remote ischaemic preconditioning, applied to both lower limbs immediately prior to surgery, reduces myocardial injury in cyanotic and acyanotic young children.

The BRICC trial is a two-centre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial recruiting up to 120 young children (age 3 months to 3 years) undergoing primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot or surgical closure of an isolated ventricular septal defect. Participants will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either bilateral remote ischaemic preconditioning (3×5 min cycles) or sham immediately prior to surgery, with follow-up until discharge from hospital or 30 days, whichever is sooner. The primary outcome is reduction in area under the time-concentration curve for high-sensitivity (hs) troponin-T release in the first 24 hours after aortic cross-clamp release. Secondary outcome measures include peak hs-troponin-T, vasoactive inotrope score, arterial lactate and central venous oxygen saturations in the first 12 hours, and lengths of stay in the paediatric intensive care unit and the hospital.

The trial was approved by the West Midlands-Solihull National Health Service Research Ethics Committee (16/WM/0309) on 5 August 2016. Findings will be disseminated to the academic community through peer-reviewed publications and presentation at national and international meetings. Parents will be informed of the results through a newsletter in conjunction with a local charity.

ISRCTN12923441.

This study aimed to describe the first two cases of electrical cardiometry applied to newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome for hemodynamical assessment in the first days of life before surgical correction and see if this can help decision making process in these patients.

We describe two case series of two full-term newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, between December 2019 and January 2020.

Case 1 was persistently hemodynamically stable with prostaglandin E1 infusion at 0.01 mcg/kg/min, showing good capillary refill time, good diuresis, no difference between pre- and postductal values of oxygen saturation or blood pressure. Electrical cardiometry monitoring constantly showed cardiac output values higher than 300 mL/kg/min. Case 2 showed poor clinical condition needing prostaglandin E1 infusion up to 0.05 mcg/kg/min, intubation and septostomy associated with low cardiac output around 190 mL/kg/min. Once cardiac output has begun to rise and reached values constantly over 300 mL/kg/min, clinical condition improved with amelioration in oxygen saturation, diuresis, blood pressure, and blood gas analysis values. She was then extubated and finally clinically stable until surgery with minimal infusion of prostaglandin E1 at 0.01 mcg/kg/min.

This case highlights how hemodynamic information provided by electrical cardiometry can be used to supplement the combined data from all monitors and the clinical situation to guide therapy in these newborns waiting surgery.

· This is the first report of electrical cardiometry (EC) use in newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).. · In HLHS patients, it is impossible to measure cardiac output without being invasive.. · EC helps in guiding therapy in HLHS patients in a noninvasive way..

Neonates and infants with congenital heart disease undergoing general anesthesia have an increased risk for critical cardiovascular events. Etomidate produces very minimal changes in hemodynamic parameters in older children with congenital heart disease. There is a lack of studies evaluating the effect of etomidate on systemic and regional cerebral perfusion in neonates and infants with congenital heart disease.

The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the effect of etomidate on systemic and regional cerebral perfusion in neonates and infants with congenital heart disease.

In fifty infants aged 0-11 months (24% neonates n = 12) with congenital heart disease, mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac index using electrical cardiometry, and regional cerebral oxygen saturation using near-infrared spectroscopy were measured at baseline and 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes after induction by 0.4 mg kg^-1 etomidate. Hypotension was defined as a mean arterial blood pressure under 35 mm Hg and cerebral desaturation as a regional cerebral oxygen saturation of less than 80% of baseline.

Mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac index, and regional cerebral oxygen saturation remained stable above the predefined limits. Mean arterial blood pressure decreased slightly within a physiological range after 3 minutes (P = .005, 95% CI:-5.9 to -1.0). No significant change in cardiac index could be observed.

Etomidate 0.4mg kg^-1 does not impair systemic or regional cerebral perfusion in neonates or infants with congenital heart disease.

We aimed to evaluate the accuracy and interchangeability of stroke volume and cardiac output measured by electrical velocimetry and transthoracic echocardiography during cesarean delivery.We enrolled 20 parturients in this prospective observational study. We recorded the stroke volume and cardiac output using both methods and compared the values at seven specific time points. We analyzed the data using linear regression analysis for Pearson's correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman analysis to determine percentage errors. We conducted a trending ability analysis based on the four-quadrant plot with the concordance rate and correlation coefficient.We recorded 124 paired datasets during cesarean delivery. The correlation coefficients of the measured cardiac output and stroke volume between the two methods were 0.397 (P < .001) and 0.357 (P < .001). The 95% limits of agreement were -1.0 to 8.1 L min for cardiac output and -10.4 to 90.4 ml for stroke volume. Moreover, the corresponding percentage errors were 62% and 60%. The concordance correlation coefficients were 0.447 (95% CI: 0.313-0.564) for stroke volume and 0.562 (95% CI: 0.442-0.662) for cardiac output. Both methods showed a moderate trending ability for stroke volume (concordance rate: 82% (95% CI: 72-90%)) and cardiac output (concordance rate: 85% (95% CI: 78-93%)).Our findings indicated that electrical velocimetry monitoring has limited accuracy, precision, and interchangeability with transthoracic echocardiography; however, it had a moderate trending ability for stroke volume and cardiac output measurements during cesarean delivery.

A 49-year-old man was diagnosed with acute cardiac insufficiency based on evidence of congestive heart failure. The non-invasive measurement of the cardiac output using an AESCULON^® mini showed low cardiac output (CO, 3.9 L/min). We administered an intravenous diuretic for cardiac edema and dobutamine drip for low cardiac output. Soon after starting dobutamine at 3.2 γ (microg/kg/min), the CO improved to 6.8 L/min. Combination therapy of diuretic and dobutamine resolved the heart failure. CO measurement by an AESCULON^® mini was safe, cost-effective, and convenient. Data output correlates with the CO by Swan-Ganz catheterization. The non-invasive measurement of the CO permitted a smooth recovery without recurrence in this patient.

Pediatric hemodialysis (HD) patients have a high incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The study aim was to investigate whether impedance cardiography (electrical velocimetry, EV) is suitable as a hemodynamic trend monitoring tool in pediatric patients during HD.

Measurements by EV were obtained before, during, and after HD in a prospective single-center pediatric observational study. In total, 54 dialysis cycles in four different pediatric patients with end-stage kidney disease on chronic HD were included. EV parameters analyzed were heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), stroke volume index (SI), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), thoracic fluid content (TFC), index of contractility (ICON), stroke volume variation (SVV), variation of ICON (VIC), R-R interval (TRR), pre-ejection period (PEP), left ventricular ejection time (LVET), and systolic time ration (STR). Systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) was calculated.

EV did measure significant changes in cardiovascular parameters associated with HD. The following parameters increased after HD: HR (9%), SVV (19%), VIC (33%), PEP (8%), and STR (18%). A decrease after HD was measured in SV (18%), SI (18%), CO (10%), CI (10%), TFC (10%), ICON (7%), TRR (7%), LVET (8%), and LVET (8%). SVRI was not affected by HD. The changes were correlated to ultrafiltration. HD cycles without fluid withdrawal also altered cardiovascular parameters.

Pediatric HD with and without fluid withdrawal changes hemodynamic EV monitoring parameters. Possibly EV may be useful to optimize HD management in pediatric patients.

Noninvasive cardiac output assessment is important for prognostication in patients with heart failure. Electrical velocimetry (EV), an impedance cardiography technique, can be used for noninvasive cardiac output assessment. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility, reproducibility and accuracy of cardiac output assessment by EV in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Cross-sectional study of CHD patients that had simultaneous cardiac output assessment by Fick and EV (using Cardiotronic monitor, Osypka Medical). We divided the cohort into: Group 1 patients (n = 54) had hemodynamic assessment at rest only, while Group 2 patients (n = 7) had assessment both at rest and peak exercise.

EV cardiac output assessment was feasible in 100% of the patients. There was good correlation between Fick-derived and EV-derived cardiac index (r = 0.89, p < 0.001) in Group 1. Among 26 patients in Group 1 that underwent cardiac output assessment pre- and post-intervention, there was no difference in the strength of correlation of Fick and EV cardiac output pre- and post-intervention (p-interaction 0.244) indicating good reproducibility of the technique. There was also modest correlation between Fick-derived and EV-derived cardiac index at rest (r = 0.68, p = 0.032), and peak exercise (r = 0.62, p = 0.055), in Group 2.

In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility and accuracy of EV cardiac output assessment in adults with CHD. We also demonstrated, for the first time, that EV cardiac output assessment was reproducible under different loading conditions, and that EV can be used for the assessment of cardiac output augmentation at peak exercise.

Few reports have focused on hemodynamics around delivery in pregnant women because of the difficulty of continuous and noninvasive measurement. Electrical cardiometry allows noninvasive continuous monitoring of hemodynamics and has recently been used in non-pregnant subjects. We compared the use of electrical cardiometry versus transthoracic echocardiography in healthy pregnant women and evaluated hemodynamics immediately after vaginal delivery. In Study 1, electrical cardiometry and transthoracic echocardiography were used to measure cardiac output in 20 pregnant women with threatened premature delivery. A significant correlation was found between the two methods, with electrical cardiometry showing the higher cardiac output. In Study 2, heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output were continuously measured in 15 women during vaginal delivery up to 2 h postpartum. Cardiac output increased markedly because of an increased heart rate and stroke volume at the time of newborn delivery. The heart rate then immediately returned to baseline, while cardiac output remained elevated for at least 2 h after delivery because of a sustained high stroke volume. Electrical cardiometry was as readily available as transthoracic echocardiography for evaluating hemodynamics and allowed for continuous measurement during labor. High intrapartum cardiac output was sustained for at least 2 h after vaginal delivery. J. Med. Invest. 66 : 75-80, February, 2019.

Cardiac output monitoring is used in critically ill and high-risk surgical patients. Intermittent pulmonary artery thermodilution and transpulmonary thermodilution, considered the gold standard, are invasive and linked to complications. Therefore, many non-invasive cardiac output devices have been developed and studied. One of those is electrical cardiometry. The results of validation studies are conflicting, which emphasize the need for definitive validation of accuracy and precision. We performed a database search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library of Clinical Trials to identify studies comparing cardiac output measurement by electrical cardiometry and a reference method. Pooled bias, limits of agreement (LoA) and mean percentage error (MPE) were calculated using a random-effects model. A pooled MPE of less than 30% was considered clinically acceptable. A total of 13 studies in adults (620 patients) and 11 studies in pediatrics (603 patients) were included. For adults, pooled bias was 0.03 L min^-1 [95% CI - 0.23; 0.29], LoA - 2.78 to 2.84 L min^-1 and MPE 48.0%. For pediatrics, pooled bias was - 0.02 L min^-1 [95% CI - 0.09; 0.05], LoA - 1.22 to 1.18 L min^-1 and MPE 42.0%. Inter-study heterogeneity was high for both adults (I² = 93%, p < 0.0001) and pediatrics (I² = 86%, p < 0.0001). Despite the low bias for both adults and pediatrics, the MPE was not clinically acceptable. Electrical cardiometry cannot replace thermodilution and transthoracic echocardiography for the measurement of absolute cardiac output values. Future research should explore it's clinical use and indications.

The influence of severity of anemia and cardiac output (CO) on cerebral oxygenation (CrSO₂) and on the change in CrSO₂ following packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion in preterm infants has not been evaluated. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the effect of pre-transfusion hemoglobin (Hb) and CO-weighted oxygen delivery index (ODI) on CrSO₂ and on the post-transfusion CrSO₂ change.

Preterm infants of <32 weeks gestational age (GA) receiving PRBC transfusion were enrolled. Infants received 15 ml/kg PRBC over 3 h. CrSO₂ by near-infrared spectroscopy and CO by electrical velocimetry were recorded for 1 h pre-ransfusion and post transfusion. ODI was defined as pre-transfusion Hb × CO.

Thirty infants of 26.6 ± 2.0 weeks GA were studied at 19 ± 12 days. Pre-transfusion Hb was 9.8 ± 0.6 g/dl. Pre-transfusion CrSO₂ correlated with pre-transfusion ODI (R² = 0.1528, p = .044) but not with Hb level. The pre-transfusion to post-transfusion CrSO₂ change correlated with pre-transfusion ODI (R² = 0.1764, p = .029) but not with Hb level. CrSO₂ increased from 66 ± 6% to 72 ± 7% post transfusion (p < .001), while arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate, and CO did not change.

In these infants, the pre-transfusion ODI was a better indicator of brain oxygenation and its improvement post transfusion than Hb alone. The role of CO and tissue oxygenation monitoring in assessing the need for transfusion should be evaluated.

Assessment of hemodynamics is crucial for the evaluation of major trauma patients. Cardiac output (CO) monitoring provides additional information and may improve volume resuscitation. The goal of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of a new non-invasive CO monitoring (NICOM) device in the emergency department (ED).

Single-center prospective observational pilot study including 20 trauma patients admitted to a level 1 trauma center. CO was continuously monitored for 60 min after ED admission using the new NICOM device ICON^®. This device measures changes of the thoracic bioimpedance to calculate CO. Conventional vital signs were recorded simultaneously. Feasibility, safety, reliability, user-friendliness, and impact of the device on standard ED procedures were assessed.

Thirteen (65%) patients were male, median age was 57.5 (IQR 25), and median ISS was 10.5 (IQR 14.8). Median CO over time was 9.8 l/min (IQR 4.6). No adverse effects were recorded. The device proved to be user-friendly with no negative impact on routine ED care. In four patients, detachment of electrodes was observed, and in four patients, the CO recording was temporary discontinued. Short-term changes of the CO were observed 44 times after the placement of electrodes and during patient transfers.

Non-invasive CO monitoring proved to be feasible and safe for the initial hemodynamic evaluation of trauma patients. Problems with the NICOM device were detachment of electrodes and temporary signal loss. Due to the small sample size and relatively low injury burden of the patients included in this study, further prospective investigation is warranted.

Septic shock in children is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Its management is time-sensitive and must be aggressive and target oriented. The use of clinical assessment alone to differentiate between cold and warm shock and to select the appropriate inotropic and vasoactive medications is fraught with errors. Semi-quantitative and quantitative assessment of the preload, contractility and afterload using non-invasive tools has been suggested, in conjunction with clinical and laboratory assessment, to direct shock management and select between vasopressors, vasodilators and inotropes or a combination of these drugs. This review aims to describe non-invasive tools to assess the hemodynamic status in septic shock including echocardiography, trans-thoracic/trans-esophageal Doppler and electrical cardiometry. As septic shock is a dynamic condition that changes markedly overtime, frequent or continuous measurement of the cardiac output (CO), systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and other hemodynamic parameters using the above-mentioned tools is essential to personalize the treatment and adapt it over time. The different combinations of blood pressure, CO and SVR serve as a pathophysiological framework to manage fluid therapy and titrate inotropic and vasoactive drugs. Near infrared spectroscopy is introduced as a non-invasive method to measure end organ perfusion and assess the response to treatment.

To evaluate the equivalence of the ICON^® electrical cardiometry (EC) haemodynamic monitor to measure cardiac output (CO) relative to transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTE) in paediatric patients with repaired coarctation of the aorta (CoA).

A group of n  =  28 CoA patients and n  =  27 matched controls were enrolled. EC and TTE were performed synchronously on each participant and CO measurements compared using linear regression and Bland-Altman analysis. The CoA group was further subdivided into two groups, with n  =  10 and without n  =  18 increased left ventricular outflow tract velocity (iLVOTv) for comparison.

CO measurements from EC and TTE in controls showed a strong correlation (R  =  0.80, p  <  0.001) and an acceptable percentage error (PE) of 28.1%. However, combining CoA and control groups revealed a moderate correlation (R  =  0.57, p  <  0.001) and a poor PE (44.2%). We suspected that the CO in a subset of CoA participants with iLVOTv was overestimated by TTE. Excluding the iLVOTv CoA participants improved the correlation (R  =  0.77, p  <  0.001) and resulted in an acceptable PE of 31.2%.

CO measurements in paediatric CoA patients in the absence of iLVOTv are clinically equivalent between EC and TTE. The presence of iLVOTv may impact the accuracy of CO measurement by TTE, but not EC.

There are substantial potential benefits to noninvasive cardiac monitoring methods, such as electrical cardiometry (EC), over more invasive methods, including significantly reduced risk of complications, lower up-front and operational costs, ease of use, and continuous monitoring. To take advantage of these technologies, clinical equivalence to currently established methods must be determined. The authors sought to determine if the noninvasive measurement of cardiac index (CI) by EC was clinically equivalent to thermodilution (TD) in adult patients with aortic stenosis (AS).

This is a cross-sectional study comparing measurement devices in a single patient group.

Single-center, university teaching hospital.

The study included 52 adult patients with aortic stenosis undergoing right heart catheterization.

Cardiac output (CO) was measured concurrently using EC with an ICON device and TD in 52 participants with AS. CI values were to determine the accuracy and precision of EC in reference to TD. Percentage error (PE) was used to assess their clinical equivalence. The participants were divided further into groups (normal and overweight/obese) based on body mass index and the analysis was repeated.

CO measurement made by EC in adult patients with obesity or overweight was reduced significantly relative to TD. This was not observed in normal-weight adult AS patients. EC provided clinically equivalent measurements to TD for measuring CI in normal-weight adult AS patients (PE = 25.0%), but not for those adult AS patients with overweight or obesity (PE = 42.3%).

Overall, the ICON device produced lower CO and index measurements relative to TD in adult patients with AS. Overweight and obesity also significantly affected the relative precision and accuracy of the ICON electrical cardiometric device to measure CI in these patients.

Closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants modifies cardiac output and induces adaptive changes in the hemodynamic situation. The present study aims to analyze those changes, through a non-invasive cardiac output monitor based on blood electrical velocimetry, in preterm babies. A prospective observational study of preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 28 weeks, and a hemodynamic significant PDA, requires intravenous ibuprofen or surgical closure. All patients were monitored with electrical velocimetry before treatment and through the following 72 h. Two groups were defined, ibuprofen and surgical closure. Variations of cardiac output were analyzed from the basal situation and at 1, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h on each group. During a 12-month period, 18 patients were studied. The median gestational age in the ibuprofen group (12/18) was 26⁺⁵ weeks (25⁺⁵-27⁺³) with a median birth weight of 875 (670-1010) g. The cardiac output index (CI) value was 0.29 l/kg/min (0.24-0.34). Among the patients with confirmed ductus closure (50%), a significant CI decrease was shown (0.24 vs 0.29 l/kg/min; P 0.03) after 72 h (three ibuprofen doses). A statistically significant decrease in systolic volume (SVI) was found: 1.62 vs 1.88 ml/kg, P 0.03 with a decrease in contractility (ICON), 85 vs 140, P 0.02. The gestational age in the surgical group (6/18) was 25⁺² weeks (24-26⁺³) with a median weight of 745 (660-820) g. All patients in this group showed a decrease in the immediate postoperative CI (1 h after surgery) 0.24 vs 0.30 l/kg/min, P 0.05, and a significant decrease in contractility (ICON 77 vs 147, P 0.03). In addition, a no statistically significant decrease in SVI (1.54 vs 1.83 ml/kg, P 0.06), as well as an increase in systemic vascular resistance (10,615 vs 8797 dyn/cm², P 0.08), were detected. This deterioration was transient without significant differences in the remaining periods of time evaluated.

The surgical closure of the PDA in preterm infants causes a transient deterioration of cardiac function linked to a documented decrease in the left ventricular output. The hemodynamic changes detected after pharmacological PDA closure are similar but those patients present a better clinical tolerance to changes in the cardiac output. What is Known: • Surgical ductus closure generates acute hemodynamic changes in cardiac output and left ventricular function. What is New: • The hemodynamic changes detected after pharmacological ductus closure are similar to those found in the surgical closure. Electrical velocimetry can detect those changes.

Pain crisis in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) is typically managed with intravenous fluids and parenteral opioids in the pediatric emergency department. Electrical cardiometry (EC) can be utilized to measure cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI) non-invasively. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measuring cerebral (rCO₂) and splanchnic regional (rSO₂) mixed venous oxygenation non-invasively has been utilized for monitoring children with SCD. We studied the value and correlation of NIRS and EC in monitoring hemodynamic status in children with SCD during pain crisis. We monitored EC and NIRS continuously for 2 h after presentation and during management. Forty-five children participated in the study. CO (D = 1.72), CI (D = 1.31), rSO₂ (D = 11.6), and rCO₂ (D = 9.3), all increased over time. CO max and CI max were achieved 1 h after starting resuscitation. rCO₂ max attainment was quicker than rSO₂, as monitored by NIRS. CI max correlated with rCO₂ max (r = -0.350) and rSO₂ max (r = -0.359). In adjustment models, initial CI significantly impacted initial rCO₂ (p = 0.045) and rCO₂ max (p = 0.043), while initial CO impacted rCO₂ max (p = 0.030). Cardiac output monitoring and NIRS monitoring for cerebral and splanchnic oxygenation were feasible and improved the monitoring of therapeutic interventions for children with SCD during pain crisis.

Traditionally, cardiovascular well-being was essentially based on whether the mean blood pressure was above or below a certain value. However, this singular crude method of assessment provides limited insight into overall cardiovascular well-being. Echocardiography has become increasingly used and incorporated into clinical care. New objective modality assessments of cardiovascular status continue to evolve and are being evaluated and incorporated into clinical care. In this review article, we will discuss some of the recent advances in objective assessment of cardiovascular well-being, including the concept of multimodal monitoring. Sophisticated haemodynamic monitoring systems are being developed, including mechanisms of data acquisition and analysis. Their incorporation into clinical care represents an exciting next stage in the management of the infant with cardiovascular compromise.

Stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output are important measures in the clinical evaluation of cardiac patients and are also frequently used in research applications. This study was aimed to improve SV scoring derived from spot-electrode based impedance cardiography (ICG) in a pediatric population of healthy volunteers and patients with a corrected congenital heart defect.

128 healthy volunteers and 66 patients participated. First, scoring methods for ambiguous ICG signals were optimized to improve agreement of B- and X-points with aortic valve opening/closure in simultaneously recorded transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Building on the improved scoring of B- and X-points, the Kubicek equation for SV estimation was optimized by testing the agreement with the simultaneously recorded SV by TTE. Both steps were initially done in a subset of the sample of healthy children and then validated in the remaining subset of healthy children and in a sample of patients.

SV assessment by ICG in healthy children strongly improved (intra class correlation increased from 0.26 to 0.72) after replacing baseline thorax impedance (Z₀) in the Kubicek equation by an equation (7.337-6.208∗dZ/dt_max), where dZ/dt_max is the amplitude of the ICG signal at the C-point. Reliable SV assessment remained more difficult in patients compared to healthy controls.

After proper adjustment of the Kubicek equation, SV assessed by the use of spot-electrode based ICG is comparable to that obtained from TTE. This approach is highly feasible in a pediatric population and can be used in an ambulatory setting.

The objective of the study was to study the effect of short-term left-lateral position on cardiovascular parameters in hemodynamically stable newborns.

Cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and heart rate (HR) were measured by electric velocimetry in hemodynamically stable newborns without respiratory support in the supine, left-lateral and back-to-supine positions, each kept for 10 min.

Thirty-two newborns were enrolled, birth weight 2134 (1818 to 2460) g, gestational age 34.5±2.4 weeks. CO and SV decreased significantly from supine to left-lateral position (CO supine: 193.4 (168.0 to 229.6) ml kg^-1min^-1; CO left-lateral: 172.0 (154.9 to 201.6) ml kg^-1min^-1, P<0.0001; SV supine: 3.0 (2.7 to 4.0) ml; SV left-lateral: 2.7 (2.4 to 3.2) ml, P<0.0004). Conversely, SVRI increased in left-lateral position: SVRI supine: 18865±9244 dyns cm^-5 m^-2; SVRI left-lateral: 21203±10059 dyns cm^-5 m^-2, P<0.0001). All variables returned to the initial value when infants were back in the supine position. HR and blood pressure did not change.

In stable infants, CO and SV decrease and SVRI increases, in left-lateral position.

To compare electrical velocimetry (EV) noninvasive measures of cardiac output (CO) and stroke volume variation (SVV) in dogs undergoing cardiovascular surgery with those obtained with the conventional thermodilution technique using a pulmonary artery catheter.

Prospective experimental trial.

Seven adult Beagle dogs with a median weight of 13.6 kg.

Simultaneous, coupled cardiac index (CI; CO indexed to body surface area) measurements by EV (CI_EV) and the reference pulmonary artery catheter thermodilution method (CI_PAC) were obtained in seven sevoflurane-anaesthetized, mechanically ventilated dogs undergoing experimental open-chest cardiovascular surgery for isolated right ventricular failure. Relationships between SVV or central venous pressure (CVP) and stroke volume (SV) were analysed to estimate fluid responsiveness. Haemodynamic data were recorded intraoperatively and before and after fluid challenge.

Bland-Altman analysis of 332 matched sets of CI data revealed an overall bias and precision of - 0.22 ± 0.52 L minute^-1 m^-2 for CI_EV and CI_PAC (percentage error: 30.4%). Trend analysis showed a concordance of 88% for CI_EV. SVV showed a significant positive correlation (r² = 0.442, p < 0.0001) with SV changes to a volume loading of 200 mL, but CVP did not (r² = 0.0002, p = 0.94). Better prediction of SV responsiveness (rise of SV index of ≥ 10%) was observed for SVV (0.74 ± 0.09; p = 0.014) with a significant area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in comparison with CVP (0.53 ± 0.98; p = 0.78), with a cut-off value of 14.5% (60% specificity and 83% sensitivity).

In dogs undergoing cardiovascular surgery, EV provided accurate CO measurements compared with CI_PAC, although its trending ability was poor. Further, SVV by EV, but not CVP, reliably predicted fluid responsiveness during mechanical ventilation in dogs.

Electrical cardiometry (EC) is a non-invasive and inexpensive method for hemodynamic assessment and monitoring. However, its feasibility for widespread clinical use, especially for the obese population, has yet to be determined. In this study, we evaluated the agreement and reliability of EC compared to transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTE) in normal, overweight, and obese children and adolescents. We measured stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) of 131 participants using EC and TTE simultaneously. We further divided these participants according to BMI percentiles for subanalyses: <85% normal weight (n = 41), between 85 and 95% overweight (n = 7), and >95% obese (n = 83). Due to small sample size of the overweight group, we combined overweight and obese groups (OW+OB) with no significant change in results (SV and CO) before and after combining groups. There were strong correlations between EC and TTE measurements of SV (r = 0.869 and r = 0.846; p < 0.0001) and CO (r = 0.831 and r = 0.815; p < 0.0001) in normal and OW+OB groups, respectively. Bias and percentage error for CO measurements were 0.240 and 29.7%, and 0.042 and 29.5% in the normal and OW+OB groups, respectively. Indexed values for SV were lower in the OW+OB group than in the normal weight group when measured by EC (p < 0.0001) but no differences were seen when measured by TTE (p = 0.096). In all weight groups, there were strong correlations and good agreement between EC and TTE. However, EC may underestimate hemodynamic measurements in obese participants due to fat tissue.

Electrical velocimetry correlates well with established methods of measuring cardiac output (CO) such as thermodilution and echocardiography. In this study, we compared the cardiac function of children with single right ventricle (SRV) and single left ventricle (SLV) on non-invasive postoperative measurement of hemodynamic parameters using AESCULON^® mini.

Demographic, preoperative, and perioperative data were obtained from medical records. We retrospectively reviewed the AESCULON mini data of 21 patients with single ventricle who underwent Fontan operation. The patients were divided into two groups according to morphologic diagnosis: SRV (n = 9) and SLV (n = 12). The following hemodynamic parameters were analyzed: stroke volume (SV); CO; cardiac index (CI); stroke volume variation (SVV); and ventricular ejection time (VET).

Hemodynamic parameters were as follows (SRV vs SLV): heart rate (HR), 140.5 beats/min versus 121 beats/min; SV, 14.5 mL vs 19.9 mL; CO, 2 L/min vs 2.3 L/min; CI, 4.3 L/min/m² versus 4.4 L/min/m² ; SVV, 15.5% versus 13.9%; and VET, 167.7 s versus 197.7 s. HR and VET were statistically different between the two groups.

CI does not differ with laterality of the single ventricle. SRV VET, however, was significantly shorter than SLV VET in the acute postoperative period. Conversely, SRV HR was higher than SLV HR, which may mean that SRV compensates for lower VET by increasing HR.

The management of preterm infants with low blood pressure soon after birth remains unresolved. The definition of what constitutes low blood pressure is uncertain. At birth, mean blood pressure appears to be gestation specific and increases in the first few days of life. Antenatal steroids, delayed cord clamping, and the avoidance of mechanical ventilation are all associated with higher mean blood pressure and less hypotension after birth. Rates of hypotension of 15-50% have been reported in various studies of extremely preterm infants. However, only about 10% of all extremely preterm infants receive inotropes, suggesting that clinicians take into account other factors such as clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic findings before deciding to intervene. The exact role of functional echocardiography in assessing the need for treatment of low blood pressure in extremely preterm infants remains to be determined. Near- infrared spectroscopy to assess cerebral perfusion may also have a role to play. Volume expansion (usually 10 mL/kg of saline) remains the most commonly used intervention for low blood pressure but evidence of benefit is lacking and there may be safety concerns. Whilst dopamine is the most commonly used inotropic drug, dobutamine, epinephrine, corticosteroids, milrinone, and vasopressin have also been utilised in preterm infants with low blood pressure. Clinical trials with long-term outcomes are needed to determine the most suitable inotrope and when to use it. Early hypotension differs from late hypotension with regard to cause, treatment, and outcome. A number of recent studies aimed at improving the evidence base for the treatment of early hypotension in extremely preterm infants have been terminated early because of poor recruitment. Currently, the answer to the question of what to do about low blood pressure in preterm infants remains unclear.

Comparison of cardiac output (CO) obtained using electric cardiometry (EC) and pulmonary artery catheterization (PAC) in pediatric patients with congenital structural heart disease.

Prospective, observational study.

A tertiary hospital.

The study comprised 50 patients scheduled to undergo cardiac catheterization.

CO data triplets were obtained simultaneously from the cardiometry device ICON (Osypka Medical, Berlin, Germany) and PAC at the following predefined time points-(1) T1: 5 minutes after arterial and venous cannulation and (2) T2: 5 minutes postprocedure; the average of the 3 readings was calculated. Reliability analysis and Bland-Altman analysis were performed to determine the limits of agreement, mean bias, and accuracy of the CO measured with EC.

The measured EC-cardiac index 4.22 (3.84-4.60) L/min/m² and PAC-cardiac index 4.26 (3.67-4.67) L/min/m² were statistically insignificant (p value>0.05) at T1. Bland-Altman analysis revealed a mean bias of 0.0051 L/min/m² and precision limits of±0.4927 L/min/m². The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.789 and Cronbach's alpha was 0.652, indicating good reproducibility and internal consistency between the two techniques. Postcatheterization analysis also revealed strong agreement and reliability between the two techniques.

This study demonstrated that cardiac indices measured in children with a variety of structural heart diseases using EC reliably represent absolute values obtained using PAC. EC technology is simple and easy to use and offers noninvasive beat-to-beat tracking of CO and other hemodynamic parameters in children with structurally abnormal hearts.

To investigate the accuracy of electrical cardiometry (EC) to measure stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) and to provide gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW)-based reference data for SV and CO in hemodynamically stable preterm neonates.

Prospective observational blinded study. Paired measurements of SV and CO on stable preterm infants without any hemodynamic compromise were carried out using EC (SVEC) and echocardiography (SVECHO).

Seventy-nine preterm neonates (mean GA: 31±3.2 weeks) were enrolled. A good correlation was found for SV (r=0.743; P<0.0001) and CO (r=0.7; P<0.0001) measured by EC and echocardiography. These correlations remained significant after adjusting for GA, patent ductus arteriosus and type of respiratory support (SV: St.β=0.48, P<0.0001 and CO: St.β=0.69, P<0.0001). Mean biases (and variabilities) were -1.1 (from 0.7 to -2.9) ml and -0.21 (from 0.15 to -0.55) l min(-1) for SV and CO, respectively. Local regression shows a tendency for EC to overestimate SV and CO especially at higher values (at about >2 ml and >0.4 l min(-1), respectively). Coefficient of variation of SV was 48.9% and 52%, for EC and echocardiography. SV and CO rose with increasing GA and BW following an exponential equation (R(2)>0.8).

Measuring SV and CO with EC in hemodynamically stable preterm infants shows good correlation and variability similar to that of echocardiography. A trend to overestimation exists at highest values, but it is unlikely to be clinically significant. Reference GA and BW-based nomograms for SV and CO are provided.

Electrical cardiometry (EC) is an impedance-based monitor that provides noninvasive, real-time hemodynamic assessment. However, the reference values for neonates have not been established.

EC (Aesculon) was applied to hemodynamically stable preterm and term infants. Hemodynamic variables included cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV) and heart rate (HR). Their gestational age (GA), weight and body surface area (BSA) were recorded.

A total of 280 neonates were studied. Their GA ranged from 26(5/7) to 41(4/7) weeks, weight 800 to 4420 g and BSA 0.07 to 0.26 m(2). CO was positively correlated to GA, weight and BSA (r=0.681, 0.822, 0.830, respectively; all P<0.001). Using regression analysis, CO was most significantly correlated to BSA. Mean CI was 2.55±0.37 l min(-1) per m(2).

Hemodynamic reference by EC is notably distinct among neonates of diverse maturity. CO is most closely correlated to BSA.