Continuous hematocrit monitoring method in an extracorporeal circulation system and its application for automatic control of blood volume during artificial kidney treatment.

A two-frequency electrical conductivity method for measuring hematocrit has been developed for use in the continuous monitoring of circulating blood volume during artificial kidney treatment. Using this method, an algorithm for programmed control of blood volume also has been developed. This hematocrit measurement method is based on the beta-dispersion of blood conductivity, and the values measured during hemodialysis are in good agreement with the laboratory hematocrit values obtained by a Coulter counter. Programmed control of blood volume was used 29 times on 11 patients undergoing long-term dialysis. In each case, the blood volume was maintained within 2.5% of the desired level, and stable control was achieved even with disturbances caused by eating, change in body position, and so on. These methods can be used to study the relationship between blood volume and dialysis-induced hypotension during artificial kidney treatment and to achieve adequate ultrafiltration without clinical adverse effects.