Cardiac Output Measurement

Cardiac output measurement estimates how much blood the heart pumps in a minute. It’s an important indicator of heart health and function. The calculation involves multiplying the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat (stroke volume) by the number of beats the heart makes each minute (heart rate). Doctors use various methods, such as imaging techniques or catheter-based measurements, to determine these values, helping them assess the heart’s ability to supply the body with oxygen-rich blood and guide treatment decisions.