Arterial waveform analysis in anesthesia and critical care: Theory, practical applications, and use in goal-directed strategies

Cardiac output and preload are important variables in the hemodynamic optimization of critically ill patients in the operating room and intensive care unit. Arterial waveform analysis (AWA) enables continuous, minimally invasive measurement of CO from an arterial line, and provides dynamic assessment of cardiac preload. The present thesis investigates the theory and current applications of AWA in anesthesia and critical care, explores the methodological challenges in CO method comparison research, and describes the process of designing a multi-center, randomized-controlled (EGDT) trial to evaluate the use of AWA techniques in perioperative goal-directed strategies.