Cardiac output measurement by the thermodilution method: an in vitro test of accuracy of three commercially available automatic cardiac output computers.

Objective: To describe the accuracy and the reproducibility of the thermodilution flow measurements obtained using 3 commercially available cardiac output computers commonly used in intensive care units.

Design: An experimental "in vitro" study. Twelve different values of control flow (Qctr) were measured (Qmsr) using 3 different cardiac output computers (Abbott Critical Care System, Oximetrix 3 SvO2/CO Computer, Baxter Oximeter/Cardiac Output Computer SAT-1; American Edwards Laboratories, 9520 A Cardiac Output Computer).

Subjective global assessment of nutrition in dialysis patients.

Malnutrition is a major negative prognostic factor in dialysis patients. Simple and reliable estimations of nutritional status may therefore prove of particular value in the follow-up of these patients. To validate subjective global assessment (SGA) in dialysis patients we compared subjective global assessment with objective measurements (anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance, biochemical measurements) in 59 chronic uraemic patients treated by haemodialysis (n = 36) or CAPD (n = 23).