[Colloid osmotic pressure of the blood of patients with neurosurgical pathology].

Colloid-osmotic blood pressure (COP) was measured for the first time in 56 neurosurgical patients by means of an oncometer made by the "Knauer" Firm. The examination was conducted in dynamics: prior to operation, on the 1st, 5th and 10th postoperative days. The control group was formed of 25 donors. The study showed that before the operation the COP in neurosurgical patients depends on the character of the disease. In neuro-oncological patients and in patients with diseases of the cerebral vessels of COP was increased prior to the operation. It decreased immediately after the operation, remained low on the 5th postoperative day and gradually returned to normal level on the 10th day of treatment. In the decompensation phase, the COP remained drastically low till the patient's death. The reduction of COP was mainly caused by a fall in the total protein concentration. No correlation was found between COP and osmolality, its components, the value of pH, hematocrit and albumin concentration. The value of COP is a highly informative test for appraising protein and water metabolism. It provides for the purposeful application of substitution therapy and parenteral and enteral feeding in neurosurgical patients.