Limitations of the Continuous Infusion Method for Measuring Cardiac Output by Dye Dilution

Abstract

In perfusion of models or organs without recirculation, continuous infusion of Brilliant Vital Red and simultaneously started quick injn. of T-1824 give concordant results. In intact animals, continuous infusion yields useful curves only in the infrequent cases when recirculation does not interrupt the 1st passage of the quick injn. Spurious plateaus can result from respiratory fluctuations in flow. Perfusion of lungs alone gives atypical quick-injn. curves with non-linear semilog disappearance.