Blood flow assessment by arterial pressure wave without external calibration

Beat by beat evaluation of cardiac index (CI) can be determined by the Pulse Contour Method (PCM), which however is limited by the need for external calibration. In our study we have evaluated the CI by the Pressure Recording Analytical Method (PRAM) based only on the changes of the pressure wave morphology. PRAM does not require external calibration and/or pre-estimated parameters. Aim of this study was to evaluate in 50 cardiac patients measurements of CI from the signal pres-sure obtained invasively (ascending aorta) and non-invasively (Finapres), by PRAM as compared to the routine clinical method (i.e. thermodilution).