

FloTrac system
Minimally-invasive hemodynamic monitoring
The minimally-invasive FloTrac system is a practical, reliable solution for advanced hemodynamic monitoring that automatically calculates key flow parameters every 20 seconds. Continuous clarity provided by the FloTrac system offers proactive decision support to manage hemodynamic instability and ensure adequate perfusion.
The FloTrac sensor integrates with the Edwards HemoSphere platform to show patient status at a glance, for visual clinical support and increased clarity in volume administration during moderate and high-risk surgical procedures.
Proactive decision support offered by the FloTrac system helps guide individualized treatment decisions for your moderate- to high-risk surgery patients, and can also be utilized perioperatively to proactively manage your patient’s physiological status in rapidly changing clinical situations in the OR and ICU.
Advanced hemodynamic parameters
- Stroke Volume (SV)
- Stroke Volume Variation (SVV)
- Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
- Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)
- Continuous Cardiac Output (CCO)
The practical solution for individualized hemodynamic optimization




Compensating for patient-to-patient differences in vasculature, real-time changes in vascular tone and differing arterial sites, the FloTrac system algorithm looks for characteristic changes in arterial pressure waveform that reflect changes in tone (i.e., MAP, Skewness, Kurtosis).
The FloTrac system algorithm is based on the principle that aortic pulse pressure is proportional to stroke volume (SV) and inversely related to aortic compliance. In addition, compliance inversely affects PP as the algorithm compensates for the effects of compliance on PP based on age, gender, and body surface area (BSA).
Model | Description | Length | Unit of Measure |
---|---|---|---|
MHD8 | FloTrac sensor | 84 in/213cm | 1 Each |
MHD85 | FloTrac sensor | 84 in/213cm | 5 Each |
MHD6 | FloTrac sensor | 60 in/152cm | 1 Each |
MHD65 | FloTrac sensor | 60 in/152cm | 5 Each |
MHD6AZ | FloTrac sensor with VAMP adult system | 60 in/152cm | 1 Each |
MHD6AZ5 | FloTrac sensor with VAMP adult system | 60 in/152cm | 5 Each |
Practical and reliable, the minimally-invasive FloTrac system offers continuous clinical decision support to enable proactive clinical decisions.
Proactively manage intraoperative hypotension (IOH)

The FloTrac system provides access to advanced hemodynamic parameters to allow you to evaluate hemodynamic instability and guide appropriate treatment.
Clarity through advanced hemodynamic monitoring parameters CO, SV, SVV and SVR provided by the FloTrac system can help you determine if the cause of IOH is preload, afterload or contractility.
If the underlying cause of hemodynamic instability is related to flow generation, continuous parameters provided by the FloTrac system can help you determine appropriate fluid therapy.
Continuous assessment of pressure and flow parameters offers proactive decision support to help proactively manage the duration and severity of IOH episodes.

Why is My Patient Hypotensive and Does it Matter? (ASA 2017)
Guide individualized fluid management
When managing perfusion, stroke volume can be optimized using the patient’s own Frank-Starling curve – a plot of SV vs. preload. The patient’s location on the curve can be determined by measuring changes in SV in response to change in preload using a bolus fluid challenge or passive leg raise (PLR).
Dynamic and flow-based parameters are more informative than conventional parameters in determining fluid responsiveness and may help guide individualized volume administration in patients and avoid excessive and insufficient administration.1
Additionally, stroke volume variation (SVV) has been proven to be a highly sensitive and specific indicator for preload responsiveness when managing volume. As a dynamic parameter, SVV has been shown to be an accurate predictor of fluid responsiveness in loading conditions induced by mechanical ventilation.2-5

Frank-Starling relationship between preload and stroke volume (SV)
- Cannesson, M. (2010) Arterial pressure variation and goal-directed fluid therapy. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, 24(3), 487-97.
- Berkenstadt, H., et al. (2001) Stroke Volume Variation as a Predictor of Fluid Responsiveness in Patients Undergoing Brain Surgery. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 92, 984-9.
- Cannesson, M. (2010) Arterial pressure variation and goal-directed fluid therapy. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, 24(3), 487-97.
- Peng, K., Li, J., Cheng, H., Ji, FH. (2014) Goal-directed fluid therapy based on stroke volume variations improves fluid management and gastrointestinal perfusion in patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery. Medical Principles and Practice, 23(5), 413-20.
- Michard, F., Mountford, W., Krukas, M., Ernst, F., Fogel, S. (2015) Potential return on investment for implementation of perioperative goal-directed fluid therapy in major surgery: a nationwide database study. Perioperative Medicine, 4,11.
Pressure and Flow (3 of 3)

Hemodynamic Assessment and Fluid Management
Optimizing fluid therapy with advanced monitoring
Manage variability in volume administration
Advanced hemodynamic parameters provided by the FloTrac system may be used in Perioperative Goal-Directed Therapy (PGDT) protocols to help reduce variability in fluid administration and guide optimal volume management in patients at risk of developing complications.

Optimizing Perioperative Hemodynamic Management
Continuous clarity into your patient’s Frank-Starling curve
The algorithm of the FloTrac system utilizes advanced waveform processing to adjust dynamically for vascular tone (resistance and compliance) in addition to patient specific variables (age, gender, body surface area, etc.) in order to calculate the key flow related parameters stroke volume and cardiac output.
The result is an enhanced ability to determine the adequacy of cardiac flow, which comprises the Y-axis of the Frank-Starling Curve.

Additionally, the FloTrac system measures preload responsiveness for the X-axis of the Frank-Starling curve through one of three distinct, practical methods:
- Stroke Volume Variation (SVV): For control-ventilated patients, SVV has been proven to be a highly sensitive and specific indicator for preload responsiveness.1 As a dynamic parameter, SVV has the advantage of predicting whether a patient will benefit from volume before fluid is given.
- Passive Leg Raising (PLR): In situations where it is not possible to use SVV (i.e., during arrhythmias, when patients are not on control-mode of ventilation, or in patients at risk of complications from fluid loading), simply raising the legs has been proven clinically to act as a “self volume challenge” to indicate the patient’s status on the Frank-Starling curve.2 If the patient is fluid-responsive, SV will increase substantially.
- SV Fluid Challenge: In the rare case when neither SVV nor PLR is feasible, the FloTrac system provides a highly efficient method for assessing fluid responsiveness via a standard fluid challenge.3-5 The administration of a small volume of fluid (e.g., 250-500 mL) and observance of the corresponding change in SV and/or CO can indicate whether further volume will improve cardiac performance.

Methods for Assessing Fluid Responsiveness

Fluid Response Simulator
- Hofer CK, Muller SM, Furrer L, Klaghofer R, Genoni M, Zollinger A. “Stroke volume and pulse pressure variation for prediction of fluid responsiveness in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.” Chest 2005;128:848-854.
- Monnet X, Rienzo M, Osman D, et al. “Passive leg raising predicts fluid responsiveness in the critically ill.” Crit Care Med 2006 Vol.34, No. 5.
- Reuter DA, Felbinger TW, Schmidt C, et al. “Stroke volume variations for assessment of cardiac responsiveness to volume loading in mechanically ventilated patients after cardiac surgery.” Intensive Care Med 2002;28:392-398.
- Reuter DA, Felbinger T, Kilger F, Schmidt C, Lamm P, Goetz AE. “Optimizing fluid therapy in mechanically ventilated patients after cardiac surgery by online monitoring of left ventricular stroke volume variations: a comparison to aortic systolic pressure variations.” Br J Anaesth 2002;88:124-126.
- Cannesson M, Attof Y, Rosamel P, et al. “Respiratory variations in pulse oximetry plethysmographic waveform amplitude to predict fluid responsiveness in the operating room.” Anesthesiology 2007;106:1105-1111.
FloTrac system algorithm version 4.0
Offers specific monitoring of a broader range of changing patient conditions
The 4.0 version of the FloTrac system algorithm uses expanded patient data to include more diverse clinical situations and high-risk surgical procedures, such as gastrointestinal, pancreaticoduodenectomy (whipple), kidney transplant, nephrectomy, hip replacement and esophagectomy.
To recognize and adjust for more patient conditions, the version 4.0 algorithm is modeled and compared across a wide range of hemodynamic values, patient profiles, pathologies and hemodynamic conditions.
Helps guide volume resuscitation despite most arrhythmias
Clinicians can now monitor and utilize SVV as a reliable indicator of preload responsiveness in most patients despite significant arrhythmias, even multiple premature atrial or ventricular contractions (PACs and PVCs).
Through continuous beat detection and analysis, the FloTrac system 4.0 algorithm allows for the ongoing use of Stroke Volume Variation as a reliable indicator of preload responsiveness. The FloTrac system algorithm enables the display and use of SVV in patients with multiple premature atrial or ventricular contractions and allows the clinician to guide volume resuscitation despite most arrhythmias.
Estimation of Stroke Volume Variation by the SVVxtra algorithm is based on detection of abnormal beats, interpolation of remaining beats, restoration of missing beats, and calculation of Stroke Volume Variation1

Hemodynamic education empowering clinical advancement
With a long-term commitment to improving the quality of care for surgical and critical care patients through education, Edwards Clinical Education meets you no matter where you are in the learning process — with a continuum of resources and tools that continuously support you as you solve the clinical challenges facing you today, and in the future.
Resources
Watch videos, explore the Fluid Response Simulator, sign up for eLearnings, download the Normal Hemodynamic Parameters pocket card and more.
OR content quick links

Physiologic Implications of Appropriate Volume Administration
ICU content quick links

Cardiovascular Physiology (1 of 3)
Therapy awareness
Hypotension management
Intraoperative hypotension
matters
Protocolized volume management
Reducing fluid variability using Perioperative Goal-Directed Therapy (PGDT)
The Edwards Advantage
We are committed to providing your institution, clinicians and staff with the highest levels of customer service and support to ensure seamless product implementation and ongoing use:
- Technical support – Call +8001 8001 801 or email techserv_europe@edwards.com
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For professional use
For a listing of indications, contraindications, precautions, warnings, and potential adverse events, please refer to the Instructions for Use (consult eifu.edwards.com where applicable).
Edwards Lifesciences devices placed on the European market meeting the essential requirements referred to in Article 3 of the Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC bear the CE marking of conformity.
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