THERMODILUTION Meaning and
Definition
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Thermodilution is a medical procedure used to measure cardiac output or the amount of blood being pumped by the heart in a given period. It is based on the principle that when a known amount of cold fluid is injected into a blood vessel or heart chamber, the temperature change can be used to calculate the cardiac output.
During the thermodilution procedure, a catheter with a temperature sensor at its tip is inserted into a blood vessel, commonly the pulmonary artery. A bolus of cold saline solution is then injected through the catheter, which mixes with the blood. The change in temperature is detected by the sensor and is used to calculate the volume of blood being pumped out by the heart.
The thermodilution technique is especially useful when assessing the cardiac output in critically ill patients, such as those in intensive care units or undergoing cardiac surgery. It provides healthcare professionals with important information about the functioning of the heart, allowing them to make informed decisions regarding treatment and management.
Thermodilution is considered a reliable method for estimating cardiac output, although it does have its limitations. Factors such as the accuracy of the temperature sensor, the rate of injection, and the mixing of the injected fluid can affect the accuracy of the results. Careful calibration and proper technique are therefore crucial to obtain precise measurements using thermodilution.
Common Misspellings for THERMODILUTION
- rhermodilution
- fhermodilution
- ghermodilution
- yhermodilution
- 6hermodilution
- 5hermodilution
- tgermodilution
- tbermodilution
- tnermodilution
- tjermodilution
- tuermodilution
- tyermodilution
- thwrmodilution
- thsrmodilution
- thdrmodilution
- thrrmodilution
- th4rmodilution
- th3rmodilution
- theemodilution
- thedmodilution
Etymology of THERMODILUTION
The word "Thermodilution" is composed of two parts: "thermo" and "dilution".
"Thermo" is derived from the Greek word "thermos", meaning hot or heat. It pertains to temperature or the transfer of heat. In medical terminology, "thermo-" is often used to describe methods or techniques involving temperature.
"Dilution" comes from the Latin word "dilutio", which means the act of making something thinner or less concentrated by adding a solvent or diluent. In medical contexts, "dilution" generally refers to the process of diluting a substance or solution to make it less concentrated.
Therefore, "Thermodilution" refers to a technique or method that involves measuring temperature changes due to dilution.
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