Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
09:32
Continuous Venous-Arterial Doppler Ultrasound During a Preload Challenge
Published on: January 20, 2023
Estimating Blood Volume Loss With Wireless, Wearable Ultrasound: A Pilot Investigation
Jon-Emile S Kenny1, Melissa Hebscher2, Tracy Savery3
1Department of Clinical Research, Health Sciences North Research Institute Walford Site, Greater Sudbury, ON P3E 2H9, Canada.
Military Medicine
|August 6, 2026
Summary
A 1 ms decrease in carotid artery corrected flow time (ccFT) indicates approximately 0.4% blood volume loss (BVL%). This finding aids in estimating hemorrhage severity using ccFT changes in healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Medical Ultrasound
- Hemodynamics
Background:
- Accurate detection of blood volume loss (BVL%) is critical for managing hemorrhage.
- Stroke volume (SV) decreases with BVL%, and carotid artery corrected flow time (ccFT) correlates with SV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between changes in ccFT (ccFTΔ) and BVL% in a controlled phlebotomy setting.
- To establish ccFTΔ as a potential non-invasive indicator of blood loss.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of healthy volunteers undergoing blood donation.
- Continuous ccFT monitoring using a wireless Doppler ultrasound system.
- Comparison of ccFTΔ and traditional vital signs against measured BVL% via mixed linear regression.
Main Results:
- Data from 20 subjects (46,123 cardiac cycles) showed an average blood draw of 413.5±39 mL (8.6±1.6% BVL%).
- A strong, significant linear relationship was found between BVL% and ccFTΔ.
- Each 1 ms reduction in ccFT corresponded to a 0.4% decrease in blood volume.
Conclusions:
- In healthy individuals, a 1 ms reduction in ccFT estimates approximately 0.4% BVL% when blood loss is the primary cause of decreased SV.
- Further validation in patients with traumatic hemorrhage is ongoing.
