South African Medical Journal
Journal / South African Medical Journal / Vol. 76 No. 8 (1989) / Articles

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Published:

Aug 6, 2017

Issue

Vol. 76 No. 8 (1989)

Section

Articles

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Author Biographies

A De Waal

Departments of Chemical Pathology, Anaesthetics, Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Physiology and the Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Unit, University of the Orange Free State and Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein

JM Hugo

Departments of Chemical Pathology, Anaesthetics, Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Physiology and the Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Unit, University of the Orange Free State and Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein

CJC Nel

Departments of Chemical Pathology, Anaesthetics, Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Physiology and the Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Unit, University of the Orange Free State and Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein

JM Meyer

Departments of Chemical Pathology, Anaesthetics, Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Physiology and the Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Unit, University of the Orange Free State and Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein

JB De Vaal

Departments of Chemical Pathology, Anaesthetics, Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Physiology and the Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Unit, University of the Orange Free State and Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein

JF Morrison

Departments of Chemical Pathology, Anaesthetics, Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Physiology and the Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Unit, University of the Orange Free State and Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein

A De Waal

JM Hugo

CJC Nel

JM Meyer

JB De Vaal

JF Morrison

Abstract

An electronic apparatus was developed for anaesthetists to use to detect changes in red cell concentration during surgery. The mechanism is based on the relationship between the red cell content and the electrical conductivity of blood. In a pilot study of 170 blood samples, a correlation coefficient of 0,9806 was obtained between haematocrit and the instrument readings. To evaluate the instrument's performance in practice, and factors that might influence its readings, a series of 10 cases of aortic surgery were investigated. It is concluded that, although changes in electrolyte concentration, pH and temperature do affect the instrument's readings, these are insignificant compared with those of red cell content, and that the device can be used to indicate a drop in red cell concentration.

S Afr Med J 1989; 76: 148-150

Journal Identifiers

eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574