Continuous Cardiac Output Measurement during Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Radial Arterial Pulse Wave versus Femoral Arterial Pulse Wave

Background and Objectives Measurement of cardiac output (CO) during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OP-CABG) is useful to assess the impact of displacement of heart during surgery. FloTrac uses the pulse-contour analysis algorithm to derive stroke volume (SV) and CO. This study was aimed to determine whether the site of monitoring of arterial pressure influences the CO measurement using Flotrac/Vigileo. Methods The authors recorded 75 sets of observations in 15 patients who underwent elective OP-CABG. Each patient had the radial and femoral artery cannulated and connected to FloTrac/Vigileo. The hemodynamic parameters were monitored at specified points of time intraoperatively. Results The CO, cardiac index, SV, stroke volume index, and stroke volume variation measured from radial artery did not differ from those of femoral artery at all points of measurement. Conclusion Either of the sites of monitoring of arterial pressure (namely radial and femoral artery) is acceptable for monitoring CO during OP-CABG.