title: The availability of circulating blood volume values alters fluid management in critically ill surgical patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA. dtakanis@hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Danny M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Takanishi
authors.forename: Elisabeth N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Biuk-Aghai
authors.forename: Mihae
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Fedor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lurie
authors.forename: Hideko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Hao C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Alyssa D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Chapital
authors.forename: Wega
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001810:Blood Volume; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative