Dynamic and Static Cardiac Function Measurements During Sepsis

What is the difference between dynamic and static cardiac function measurements during sepsis, and how should these measurements be used?

A Alexander P. Johnson, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC, CCNS, CCRN, Tara Fallon, BSN, RN, and Deborah Thorgesen, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, reply:

The move to dynamic rather than static measures of cardiac function represents a paradigm shift in hemodynamics and fluid resuscitation. Best practices for monitoring are transitioning from pressure-based parameters to flow-based parameters, and from static to dynamic variables. Many of us were trained to use static variables, such as blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and urine output. These parameters indirectly correlate with cardiac output, but because they are slow to change owing to compensatory mechanisms, they can be misleading or can be late signs of patient status. On the other hand, dynamic variables, such as stroke volume (SV) and SV variation, are more closely associated with cardiac output, are more...