Abstract
Intradialytic hypovolemia is a common complication of hemodiaysis. When the rate of ultrafiltration exceeds the body's capacity to refill the intravascular space, a reduction in the circulating blood volume occurs. The aim of this study is to establish the accuracy and repeatability in the method of continuous blood volume monitoring during hemodialysis using a noninvasive optical technique (GRIT-LINETM) for measuring absolute hematocrit. A good correlation of hematocrit values between with the CRIT-LINE monitor and a microcentrifuge was observed (r=0.99). During hemodialysis, the CRIT-LINE monitor was useful to predict and help avoid hypovolemic morbidity or crash by determining in advance a critical patient-specific hematocrit for crash, or CRASH GRIT.
