The Blood Volume in Various Medical and Surgical Conditions

Abstract

AMONG the quantitative blood examinations frequently used in health and in abnormal states are the red-cell count and the hematocrit. Rarely in routine medical practice does the physician or surgeon determine the total red-cell volume and plasma volume. We have had extensive experience with blood-volume determination, and from the evidence presented in this paper conclude that red-cell counts are often misleading and that the determination of the blood volume turns out to be of great importance in the handling of major medical and surgical problems.Since the original description of the method by Hevesy and Zerahn¹ of the in vitro . . .