Does hemodynamic monitoring complement conventional methods of assessment in the critically ill cardiac patient?
Holder, D.A.
Canadian Medical Association Journal 121(7): 895-900
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-4409 PMID: 497980 Document Number: 143201
Conventional clinical methods give qualitative information about left ventricular function in the critically ill patient. However, the information gathered from the physical examination and noninvasive methods is subject to important pitfalls with respect to both its nonspecificity and interobserver variability. The advent of hemodynamic monitoring has highlighted these difficulties and provided more quantitative information that is relevant in both diagnosis and treatment of the critically ill patient.