ICU echocardiography and noninvasive haemodynamic monitoring

There are several devices for haemodynamic monitoring in the ICU. In low-risk postsurgical patients, haemodynamic monitoring of noninvasive blood pressure, heart rate and EtCO2 will be able to provide sufficient data to diagnose an unexpected haemodynamic instability. In high-risk or in intermediate-risk postsurgical patients, it may be sufficient to perform a SVV monitoring to guide the haemodynamic optimization and the patient’s preload management. In major and more complex surgical procedures, where “mixed shock” can occur (e.g. in abdominal emergency surgery or in a patient with pre-existing cardiomyopathy or valve disease or pulmonary hypertension), a complete and more invasive haemodynamic assessment must be performed with a calibrated device for the cardiac output measurement or a combined PAC with a SVV measuring tool.