This book describes Hypovolemia, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Hypovolemia is an important disorder which can cause hypotension and hypovolemic shock.

I thought I had written a book about this important condition before.

Apparently I was wrong so I am writing about this condition now.

Hypovolemia indicates a state of low extra-cellular fluid volume in the body, normally due to combined sodium and water loss.

‘Hypo-’ indicates ‘less’.

‘Vol-’ indicates volume while ‘emia-’ indicates blood

Hypovolemia is a reduced volume of blood in the body.

When the hypovolemia is not treated, insufficient blood reaches the vital organs.

These organs may stop functioning and hypovolemic shock happens.

When the body is sufficiently hydrated and there is enough relative fluid volume to fill the circulatory space present, the body systems normally function properly.

When the circulatory space is larger relative to the fluid available, this state is termed hypovolemia.

The lack of volume has an effect on the ability of the body to perfuse the tissues with blood, oxygen, and nutrients.

Inadequate blood perfusion to the organs is termed hypovolemic shock.

It may develop from blood loss or loss of body fluids such as water and salt.

The blood that flows in the arteries, veins and capillaries is liquid.

If the cellular parts of blood (Rbc, Wbc and platelets) are removed, what remains is termed plasma, the straw-colored liquid part of blood.

It is the largest part of blood, making up 55%, comprising 92% water, 7% proteins and 1% mineral salts, sugars, fats, hormones and vitamins.

Hypovolemia is the loss of this plasma.

If the hypovolemia is due to loss of plasma from the blood vessels to outside of the body, it is termed as absolute hypovolemia.

If it is due to causes other than the fluid loss, it is termed relative hypovolemia.

Hypovolemic shock is a medical emergency state where excessive fluid and blood loss happens and induces the heart to pump the blood essential to the body.

This shock can even induce body organs to stop working.

Hypovolemia is the loss of bodily fluid or blood from:

Injury: external cut, burn or wound

Illness: persistent vomiting and diarrhea.

Internal bleeding: blood loss within the body

Dehydration or malnutrition: lack of water and salt intake.

Excessive sweating: Strenuous activities cause sweating for a long time

Frequent symptoms of hypovolemia are:

Fatigue

Dizziness

Thirst

Pale clammy skin

Weakness

Leg cramps

Dry mucous membranes

Rapid breathing

Rapid heart rate

Low blood pressure

Loss of skin elasticity

Reduced urine output

Hypovolemia needs prompt treatment to avoid permanent organ injury and death.

Intravenous fluid resuscitation is the most often treatment for patients in the acute setting.

The purpose of treatment for hypovolemia is to raise the quantity of fluid volume in the body through fluid resuscitation.

Depending on what type of fluid the body needs, the fluid replacement could involve:

Blood transfusion: Blood from a donor replaces lost blood in the body

Crystalloid solution: Tiny molecules of dissolved saline, dextrose or a combination of sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and lactate

Colloids: Large molecules of protein

Besides fluid replacement, the doctor will treat the cause of the hypovolemia which may be:

Treating an infection or illness

Healing a wound

Providing missing nutrients such as sodium or electrolytes

The prognosis is good if treated early

TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction

Chapter 1 Hypovolemia

Chapter 2 Causes

Chapter 3 Symptoms

Chapter 4 Diagnosis

Chapter 5 Treatment

Chapter 6 Prognosis

Chapter 7 Capillary Leak Syndrome

Chapter 8 Shock

Epilogue