How to assess cardiac output

Dr Marcus Peck, a consultant intensivist based in Firmley Park Surrey. He gives us an insight into how to assess cardiac output, this will also teach us how to measure stroke volume. Cardiac output is the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute, echocardiography can be used to measure this and is now recommended as the first evaluation method. Dr. Peck starts this process by measuring the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter. Dr. Peck gives us the best process to make sure it is the most accurate measurement it can be and importantly how to avoid the complications of this measurement. Dr. Peck also advises using this method to measure LVOT before and after an intervention, if you measure two or three in a row, you will have an average, if you then elevate the legs and then measure again, you will know if they have volume responsiveness. To learn more about this type of assessment watch the video in full for more information