ESTIMATION OF BLOOD VOLUME FROM CHANGE IN BLOOD SPECIFIC GRAVITY FOLLOWING A PLASMA INFUSION 12

Abstract

When infusions of plasma or isosmotic albumin soln. are given in the vols. (500 ml. or more) used in treatment of shock, the vol. of the subject''s circulating blood can be estimated from the change in Hb concn. or sp. gr. of the blood caused by the infusion. Blood vol. estimations by this procedure, with infusion of 1.2-1.5 1. of plasma and measurements of sp. gr. by the CuSO4 method when compared with estimations by the vital blue dye method showed a maximal deviation of 13%; A nomogram is given which facilitates calculation of blood vol. from the vol. and sp. gr. of the infused fluid, and the decrease in gravity caused by the infusion.