Summary
Highlights
To shoot thermodilution cardiac output numbers, you'll need a thermodilution Swan-Ganz catheter inserted into the patient, a thermodilution cardiac output module for the monitor, and a specific cable that connects the module to the Swan catheter for temperature sensing.
Other essential equipment includes a 500cc bag of saline and cardiac output tubing. The tubing comes in two pieces; attach the syringe from the set to one end and prime it with saline. This saline bag will hang on an IV pole. To ensure the saline is cold for injection, run the tubing coil through an ice bucket attached to the IV pole.
Connect the syringe to the CVP port. The CVP pressure tubing should be on the stopcock at a 90-degree angle. To read CVP, turn the stopcock off to the syringe. To shoot cardiac output, turn it off to the CVP. A temperature sensor then attaches to the cardiac output syringe to measure the saline's temperature before injection.
With everything set up, navigate to 'procedures' and then 'cardiac output' on the GE monitor. Select 'start cardiac output serial'. The monitor will prompt you to inject. Draw 10cc of iced saline, which is automatically drawn due to a one-way valve, and then inject it quickly and smoothly. The monitor will display a temperature curve and indicate when it's ready for the next injection.