Continuous noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring in decompensated heart failure.

Background: The clinical and hemodynamic assessment at the bedside and the use of pulmonary artery catheter for the estimation of hemodynamic data have been used in decompensated heart failure. However, there are no data on the use of continuous noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring. Objective: To compare the data obtained through noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring with invasive ones in patients with decompensated heart failure and refractory to treatment. Methods: The non-invasive hemodynamic measurements were obtained through continuous monitoring of systemic blood pressure by the pulse wave model (Modelflow) and compared with measurements obtained by the passage of a pulmonary artery catheter, simultaneously. Results: A total of 56 measurements were performed in 14 patients studied on different days and time periods. The correlation index between systolic blood pressure measurements was r = 0.26 (95% CI = 0.00 to 0.49, p = 0.0492) and diastolic ones, r = 0.50 (95% CI = 0.27 to 0.67, p < 0.0001). The correlation was r = 0.55 (95% CI = 0.34 to 0.71, p < 0.0001) for cardiac index and r = 0.32 (95% CI = 0.06 to 0 53, p = 0.0178) for systemic vascular resistance. Conclusion: There was a correlation between the hemodynamic measurements when compared to noninvasive pulmonary artery catheter measurements. The continuous noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring may be useful for hospitalized patients with decompensated heart failure. (Arq Bras Cardiol 2012;99(3):843-847)