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| Typical Number in Hospital: 3 | Cost Bands: 4 | References: 2 |
This is a blood loss meter for use after surgery to estimate the quantity of blood lost into swabs and drapes. It consists of a small washing machine in which the cloths are washed in a haemolytic solution, and a device for estimating the volume of blood in the wash. This may work on the colorimetric principle to measure the haemoglobin content, or it may measure the electrical impedance. The method is time consuming and so is not often used, and in any case its accuracy is limited since it cannot record the blood lost into the suction apparatus, on to the floor, or effectively lost as clots near the wound or injury.
Content and Design Copyright 2000 Dr. Malcolm C Brown. See Title Page for more details