This question is posted in the Technical Discussion Forum also. Would a Fresenius Blood Volume Monitoring unit give an alarm if a venous needle became dislodged, or a blood line came apart? Would it just shut down the UF or lower it, and how fast would it react to the lower blood volume in the patient? Would this equipment help detect the sudden severe and sometimes fatal blood loss in this situation? Would BVM equipment be of any benifit here since you seldom get any other alarm when this happens?

Ktech,

I wouldn't think it would catch anything. The BVM essentially measures the viscosity of the blood, not the patients total blood volume.

Chuck

The question is if there was substantial blood loss would the viscosity change fast enough for the module to detect it? And how often does the the BVM module do the monitoring anyway? If the patient has lost a substantial amount of blood, and the UF continues at a steady rate, would the viscosity changes occur fast enough and the monitoring happen often enough for it to be detected? I think probably not, but would like to hear more about it.

I have read about speculation over changes in SpO2 concentration using a pulse ox to set off alarms, but not much in the way of viscosity. I am currently doing research in this topic. If you know anything or would like to know please don't hesitate to contact me dwickland[at]ehealthinnovation.org

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has lost a substantial amount of blood, and the UF continues at a steady rate, would the viscosity changes occur fast enough and the monitoring happen often enough for it to be detected? I think probably not, but would like to hear more about it.