Impedance Cardiography (ICG) is a non-invasive test performed as a part of your regular exam to make a proper diagnosis and determine whether you are on the right cardiac medication. During the procedure, four dual, disposable sensors are placed on your neck and chest to check your fluid status and evaluate whether you are vasoconstricted or dehydrated, as well as assessing your heart function.

To help optimize blood pressure management for example, it’s essential to measure the degree of vasoconstriction, and ICG allows you to do just that. The measurement of blood pressure alone is not sufficient when evaluating a patient for cardiovascular disease because it does not assess a patient’s volume status. Cardiovascular disease is also commonly associated with a decrease in cardiac output, which is a measure of cardiac function, and ICG allows for the direct measurement of cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, and fluid status.

In the past, the only way to measure cardiac output was with right-heart catheterization, an invasive procedure that posed numerous risks. ICG is a new technology that continuously measures hemodynamic parameters without the associated risks of traditional techniques. ICG is designed to assess and manage hypertension, congestive heart failure, and pacemaker patients. No special preparation is necessary for ICG.