Evaluation of impedance cardiography as an alternative to pulmonary artery catheterization in critically ill patients.

Invasive pulmonary artery catheterization has historically been the method of choice for the evaluation of hemodynamic status. Impedance cardiography (ICG) is an accurate, noninvasive technique to obtain hemodynamic status information without the risk and cost associated with invasive methods. The purpose of this prospective, observational study was to determine whether the availability of ICG could decrease the need for placement of a pulmonary artery catheter in critically ill patients in coronary care units.