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Published on: January 20, 2023
The availability of circulating blood volume values alters fluid management in critically ill surgical patients
Danny M Takanishi1, Elisabeth N Biuk-Aghai, Mihae Yu
1Department of Surgery, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA. dtakanis@hawaii.edu
Background:
This study evaluated whether commercially available blood volume measurements in critically ill surgical patients altered fluid management.
Methods:
Patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital were prospectively evaluated. The frequency of changes in fluid management when results of blood volume measurements were available was determined.
Results:
In a pilot study, the frequency of instances when measurement of blood volume would have altered fluid management was statistically significant (P = .0003). In 40 subsequent patients, treatment change occurred in 36% of instances when blood volume results were obtained (P < .001). In the majority, no immediate qualitative change in clinical status occurred, with a desirable clinical response in 39% and no negative treatment responses (P < .001).
Conclusions:
Blood volume measurements may assist in the management of critically ill surgical patients by providing a direct measure of intravascular volume. Further studies are warranted to determine its effect on outcome.
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