• J A Penny, J Anthony, A H Shennan, M De Swiet, and M Singer.
• Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cape Town, St Thomas' Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
• Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2000 Sep 1; 183 (3): 658-61.

ObjectiveThis study was undertaken to compare hemodynamic data derived with the esophageal Doppler monitor against those obtained with a pulmonary artery flotation catheter in women with complicated preeclampsia.Study DesignSeventeen women with severe preeclampsia who had a pulmonary artery flotation catheter placed for clinical indications also had an esophageal Doppler monitor inserted. Hemodynamic data were recorded on 2 occasions separated by several hours with both the pulmonary artery flotation catheter and the esophageal Doppler monitor simultaneously.ResultsThe esophageal Doppler monitor underestimated cardiac output by 36% +/- 14% (mean +/- SD). The esophageal Doppler monitor accurately estimated cardiac output in 3 women >40 years old, whereas in the remaining women (all <35 years old) the esophageal Doppler monitor underestimated cardiac output by 38% +/- 11%. The esophageal Doppler monitor accurately reflected changes in cardiac output with time when compared with the pulmonary artery flotation catheter.ConclusionIn women with preeclampsia the esophageal Doppler monitor consistently underestimated cardiac output by approximately 40%. It is not known whether the apparent increase in accuracy among the women >40 years old arose by chance or reflected a real improvement in performance. The esophageal Doppler monitor accurately reflected the direction and magnitude of the changes in cardiac output with time.

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