ABSTRACT
Apart from proper calibration of the different catheters, correct onset of recording and checking the correct position of the catheters, two additional main limitations of the thermodiluation technique have to be considered. Commercially available systems are designed to prevent warming of the injectate by the hands of the operator. However, warming of the cold solution caused by prolonged stay of the injectate in the right atrium secondary to severe tricuspid regurgitation or low cardiac output makes the thermodilution method unreliable (27). Similarly, heavy respiration might induce PA temperature changes and may result in inaccuracies of thermodilution cardiac output measurements (23).
