LVOT Doppler for estimation of cardiac output

Doppler estimation of cardiac output


Continuous or pulse wave Doppler is aimed at an area of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) or at the descending aorta.

pulse-wave aortic doppler
doppler direction and aortic crossectional area

cylinder of blood measured by aortic doppler

Calculation of cardiac output:


Its not rocket science.

The cross-sectional area of the aorta, multiplied by the distance traveled by the column of blood, gives you the volume ejected per beat. Once you have stroke volume and heart rate, you have cardiac output.

References

From Bersten and Soni’s” Oh's Intensive Care Manual”, 6th Edition;

The echo stuff comes from Scott D. Solomon’s Essential Echocardiography