Esophageal Doppler Monitor Checks Heart Functioning

An esophageal monitor utilizes Doppler ultrasound to transmit hemodynamic data on critically ill patients, providing beat-by-beat information on how the heart is functioning, on how effectively patient fluid levels are being maintained, and on the impact of therapeutic interventions. The monitor is designed to reduce postoperative complications and length of hospital stays of such critically ill patients.

Called the CardioQ, the monitoring system utilizes descending aortic flow to assess left ventricular performance. A thin, silicone probe is inserted into the esophagus of an intubated, sedated patient and positioned next to the descending aorta. The other end of the probe is connected to the monitoring system. The process is simple and quick, allowing monitoring to begin in several minutes. Unlike a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), it does not put severely ill patients at greater risk for infection. The system is the product of Deltex Medical Group plc (Dallas, TX, USA).

Two studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists in San Francisco verified the positive impact of the monitoring system on patient outcome. One study included 124 heart surgery patients, half monitored with PAC and the rest with the CardioQ. The results showed that the CardioQ patients had a 30% reduction in the time taken to remove breathing tubes and a 30% reduction in length of hospital stay. Also, the CardioQ patients required significantly less vasopressor during surgery than those treated with the PAC.




Related Links:
Deltex Medical Group