An interactive computer model is described which uses ‘blood volume deficit’ and ‘bleeding duration’ together with rates of infusion to simulate the first two hours of haemorrhage. It allows multiple infusions of various fluids to be specified and includes an estimation of the volumes added by the transcapillary refill mechanism. The output is expressed graphically in terms of blood pressure and haematocrit at intervals of one minute. This computer model has proved useful for assessing the effects of a range of variables in hypovolaemic shock. It has considerable potential for investigating the relative efficacy of various clinical protocols and could provide an alternative to animal experimentation which has so far been the primary method of obtaining data on acute haemorrhage. It is also a useful teaching aid.

Medical engineering & physics

computer model; resuscitation; Acute haemorrhage; Biological and medical sciences; Medical sciences; Computerized, statistical medical data processing and models in biomedicine; Models and simulation; Biophysical Phenomena; Hemorrhage - physiopathology; Hemorrhage - therapy; Models, Cardiovascular; Humans; Biophysics; Animals; Blood Transfusion; Computer Simulation; Hemorrhage - etiology; Blood Volume; Infusions, Intravenous; Resuscitation; Index Medicus; computer model; resuscitation; Acute haemorrhage; Biomedical data processing; Treatment efficiency; Cardiovascular disease; Duration; Filling; Flowmetry; Hemorrhage; Modeling; Computer aid; Biomedical engineering

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