Measuring cardiac output in children undergoing cardiac catheterization: comparison between the Fick method and PRAM (pressure recording analytical method)

Summary Background Pressure recording analytical method ( PRAM ) is a novel, arterial pulse contour method for measuring cardiac output ( CO ). Validation studies of PRAM in children are few, and have shown contradictory results. The aim of the study was to compare the MostCare ® ‐ PRAM vs the Fick method of cardiac output estimation (reference method). Methods This is a single‐center, prospective observational study in 52 pediatric patients who underwent diagnostic right and left heart catheterization. Cardiac index ( CI ) measurements with the MostCare ® ‐ PRAM vs the Fick method were obtained under hemodynamically stable conditions. Results Forty CI measurements were performed. The data showed good agreement between CI F ick and CI PRAM : r 2 = 0.90 ( P < 0.001), mean bias −0.075, limits of agreement from −0.56 to 0.41. The percentage error was 17%. Comparable results were obtained for patients <20 kg ( r 2 = 0.87, P < 0.001), mean bias −0.135, limits of agreement from −0.35 to 0.62, percentage of error 17%. Conclusions In pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic right and left heart catheterization, the MostCare ® ‐ PRAM was shown to estimate CI with a good level of agreement with the Fick method measurements.