Volume assessment in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis: A comparison of intrathoracic blood volume index, central venous pressure, and hematocrit, and their correlation to cardiac index and extravascular lung water index*

Abstract

Volume depletion according to ITBI was found in more than half the patients. The predictive values of CVP and hematocrit with regard to volume depletion were low. ITBI and its changes significantly correlated to CI and its changes, which was not observed for CVP and delta-CVP. Therefore, ITBI appears to be more appropriate for volume management in necrotizing pancreatitis than CVP or hematocrit.