PiCCO Technology

The pulse contour analysis provides continuous information while transpulmonary thermodilution provides static measurements. Transpulmonary thermodilution is used to calibrate the continuous pulse contour parameters.

For the transpulmonary thermodilution measurement, a defined bolus (for example 15mls cold 0.9% normal saline) is injected via a central venous catheter. The cold bolus passes through the right heart, the lungs and the left heart and is detected by the PiCCO catheter, commonly placed in the femoral artery. This procedure should be repeated around three times in under 10 minutes to ensure an accurate average is used to calibrate the device and to calculate the thermodilution parameters. These thermodilution parameters (i.e. they are updated only when the thermodilution procedure is performed) should be checked whenever there is a significant change in the patient’s condition or therapy. It is recommended to calibrate the system at least 2 to 3 times per day depending on the patients condition.