INSTANTANEOUS CHANGES IN CIRCULATING BLOOD-VOLUME DUE TO VARIOUS PHYSIOLOGICAL MANEUVERS

Hypotension due to hypovolemia is a common complication of hemodialysi s. Using an optical technique to measure alterations in the properties of light passing through the blood line of a dialysis circuit, the ef fects on circulating blood volume of various clinical maneuvers were a ssessed with respect to their ability to affect the onset of clinical hypotension. Continuous blood volume monitoring was found to provide a n opportunity to detect and abort hypotension due to hypovolemia befor e a patient becomes symptomatic, reducing intradialytic morbidity, esp ecially during short, rapid dialysis. The effects of other practices, such as eating during dialysis, were elucidated. Analysis of new treat ment modalities or development of individualized patient ultrafiltrati on profiles are possible future applications of the technology.