The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of 2 techniques for the continuous assessment of cardiac output in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF): a radial artery pulse contour analysis method which uses an indicator dilution method for calibration (LiDCO) and an impedance cardiography technique (Physioflow), using the Fick method as a reference. Ten male CHF patients (New York Heart Association class II-III) were included. At rest, cardiac output values obtained by LiDCO and Physioflow were compared with those of the direct Fick method. During exercise, the continuous Fick method was used as a reference. Exercise, performed on a cycle ergometer in upright position, consisted of 2 constant-load tests at 30% and 80% of the ventilatory threshold, and a symptom limited maximal test. Both at rest and during exercise LiDCO showed good agreement with reference values (bias ± limits of agreement (LOA), -1%±28% and 2%±28%, respectively). In contrast, Physioflow overestimated reference values both at rest and during exercise (bias ± LOA, 48%±60% and 48%±52%, respectively). Exercise-related within-patient changes of cardiac output, expressed as a % change, showed for both techniques clinically acceptable agreement with reference values (bias ± LOA: 2%±26% for LiDCO, and -2%±36% for Physioflow, respectively). In conclusion, although the limits of agreement with the Fick method are pretty broad, LiDCO provides accurate measurements of cardiac output during rest and exercise in CHF patients. Although Physioflow overestimates cardiac output, this method may still be useful to estimate relative changes during exercise.