Various methods and systems for photoacoustic patient monitoring are provided. A photoacoustic system includes a light emitting component that emits one or more wavelengths of light into an interrogation region of a patient and an acoustic detector that detects acoustic energy generated by the interrogation region of the patient in response to the emitted light. The system may be implemented to receive photoacoustic waves from a local vein and artery and determine hemodynamic parameters based on a summed indicator dilution curve representative of both arterial and venous indicator dilution.
