Automated, continuous and non-invasive assessment of pulse pressure variations using CNAP^® system

Non-invasive respiratory variations in arterial pulse pressure using infrared-plethysmography (PPV_CNAP) are able to predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients. However, they cannot be continuously monitored. The present study evaluated a new algorithm allowing continuous measurements of PPV_CNAP (PPV_CNAPauto) (CNSystem, Graz, Austria). Thirty-five patients undergoing vascular surgery were studied after induction of general anaesthesia. Stroke volume was measured using the Vigileo^TM/FloTrac^TM. Invasive pulse pressure variations were manually calculated using an arterial line (PPV_ART) and PPV_CNAPauto was continuously displayed. PPV_ART and PPV_CNAPauto were simultaneously recorded before and after volume expansion (500 ml hydroxyethylstarch). Subjects were defined as responders if stroke volume increased by ≥15 %. Twenty-one patients were responders. Before volume expansion, PPV_ART and PPV_CNAPauto exhibited a bias of 0.1 % and limits of agreement from −7.9 % to 7.9 %. After volume expansion, PPV_ART and PPV_CNAPauto exhibited a bias of −0.4 % and limits of agreement from −5.3 % to 4.5 %. A 14 % baseline PPV_ART threshold discriminated responders with a sensitivity of 86 % (95 % CI 64–97 %) and a specificity of 100 % (95 % CI 77–100 %). Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for PPV_ART was 0.93 (95 % CI 0.79–0.99). A 15 % baseline PPV_CNAPauto threshold discriminated responders with a sensitivity of 76% (95 % CI 53–92 %) and a specificity of 93 % (95 % CI 66–99 %). Area under the ROC curves for PPV_CNAPauto was 0.91 (95 % CI 0.76–0.98), which was not different from that for PPV_ART. When compared with PPV_ART, PPV_CNAPauto performs satisfactorily in assessing fluid responsiveness in hemodynamically stable surgical patients.