1. Clinical examination alone is not sufficient to assess hemodynamic status in critically ill patients as individual vital signs do not reflect overall status.
2. Arterial lines can be used to monitor blood pressure, heart rate, and derive parameters like cardiac output but waveforms require interpretation and may be affected by various artifacts.
3. Pulmonary artery catheters can measure central venous and pulmonary artery pressures as well as cardiac output but have potential complications and their use remains controversial with no proven benefits shown in large trials.