ISSN:
1432-1238
Keywords:
Body weight
;
Water and electrolyte balance
;
Water loss
;
Insensible
;
Bioelectrical impedance
;
Electric conductivity
;
Critical care
;
Human
;
Adult
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Objective To design and evaluate a simple and rapid method to predict body hydration status in critically ill patients. Design Prospective, consecutive sample. Setting Medical intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients 31 consecutive patients. Methods All patients were classified daily for hydration status by the attending physician based on clinical impression, weight changes and laboratory measurements. The hydration status was scored as ‘dehydrated’, ‘euvolemic’ or ‘edematous’. The total body impedance was measured daily by a tetrapolar impedance technique. Results Resistances 〉700Ω were found in dehydrated subjects and resistances of 〈400 Ω in edematous patients. Weight gain was observed in dehydrated and weight loss in edematous patients. A discriminant analysis was used to create a predictive model for hydration using the daily impedance and weight measurements. If a cutoff point of 60% for the predicted classification was used to categorize the patient's hydration as dehydrated, euvolemic and edematous, no false positive predictions were observed for the dehydrated or the edematous state. Conclusion Impedance measurements are in close agreement with the clinical impression of hydration of critically ill patients. Future investigations must elucidate the clinical importance.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01726535
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