Model-Based Stressed Blood Volume is an Index of Fluid Responsiveness∗

Fluid therapy is frequently used to manage acute circulatory failure. This therapy aims to restore cardiac output by fluid administration, which increases the quantity of fluid in the circulation. However, it has been shown to be effective only in certain cases, leading to the need for indices of fluid responsiveness. Total stressed blood volume has recently been shown to be such an index of fluid responsiveness. However, the current methods to determine this parameter require specific procedures. In this work, a more straightforward method is developed using data available in the intensive care unit. A simple three-chamber cardiovascular system model is used, of which total stressed blood volume is a parameter. All model parameters (including total stressed blood volume) are adjusted to pig experimental data during fluid administrations. The resulting value of total stressed blood volume is always negatively associated with the relative change in cardiac output after fluid administration. This finding confirms that total stressed blood volume is an index of fluid responsiveness. Another finding of this study is that the response curves are subject-specific. The method developed in this work can be applied to humans, since the data required is typically available in an intensive care unit.