Indirect cardiac output assessment in a swine pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome model.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between volume of carbon dioxide elimination (V̇CO) and end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO) with cardiac output (CO) in a swine pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) model.

Methods: Respiratory and hemodynamic variables were collected from twenty-six mechanically ventilated juvenile pigs under general anesthesia before and after inducing ARDS, using oleic acid infusion.

Results: Prior to ARDS induction, mean (SD) CO, V̇CO, PETCO, and dead space to tidal volume ratio (V/V) were 4.