Electrical cardiometry

Electrical Cardiometry (EC)

Electrical Cardiometry (pronunciation: e-lek-tri-kal kar-dee-om-e-tree) is a non-invasive method used to measure cardiac output and other hemodynamic parameters. It is based on the principle of Thoracic Electrical Bioimpedance (TEB).

Etymology

The term 'Electrical Cardiometry' is derived from the Greek words 'elektron' meaning amber (from which electricity was first produced), 'kardia' meaning heart, and 'metron' meaning measure. Thus, it essentially means 'measuring the heart's electricity'.

Method

Electrical Cardiometry uses four Electrodes placed on the neck and the thorax. A small, harmless electrical current is passed through the body, and the changes in impedance are measured. These changes are related to the volume of blood in the aorta, which in turn provides information about cardiac output.

Parameters Measured

Electrical Cardiometry can measure several parameters including:

Cardiac Output (CO): The volume of blood pumped by the heart in one minute.
Stroke Volume (SV): The volume of blood pumped by the heart in one beat.
Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR): The resistance to blood flow in the systemic circulation.
Thoracic Fluid Content (TFC): An indicator of the fluid status in the thoracic cavity.

Advantages

Electrical Cardiometry has several advantages over other methods of measuring cardiac output. It is non-invasive, continuous, and can be used in a variety of clinical settings. It is also safe to use in patients with pacemakers and defibrillators.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Electrical cardiometry
Wikipedia's article - Electrical cardiometry

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Electrical cardiometry