The effects of hemodynamic monitoring using the PiCCO system on critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of hemodynamic monitoring using the pulse index continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) system with critically ill patients. METHODS: In total, 292 patients with primary physiological abnormalities of hypotension (n = 180) or hypoxemia (n = 112) were evaluated. The attending physicians completed a questionnaire before each catheterization. After each catheterization, the attending physicians reviewed each chart to determine the possibility of altering the therapy. RESULTS: <0.0001) when the hemodynamic monitoring led to therapeutic changes. CONCLUSIONS: The hemodynamic variables obtained using the PiCCO system improved the accuracy of the bedside evaluations and led to alterations in the therapeutic plans, particularly among the hypotension patients. The therapy changes showed no improvement in the overall mortality but were associated with improved tissue perfusion among the hypotension patients.