Assessment of cardiac output using the ultrasonic cardiac output monitoring (USCOM) device in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Aims: Cardiac output (CO) measurements using 2D continuous wave Doppler may become a useful tool in the NICU. Method: In a pilot study using the USCOM device (USCOM Pty Ltd Australia), we have determined 1) the inter operator (rater) agreement and 2) the Aortic and Pulmonary CO in neonates admitted to the NICU during the first 8 days of life. We first compared results by operator and then combined the results from the 2 operators for an average for each neonate. Results: Twelve (12) neonates enrolled in the study and their gestational age was 34.1±3.7 weeks, birthweight 2.268±0.872Kg with a male:female ratio of…