Original Article

An Evaluation of Three Methods for Determining Colloid Osmotic Pressure

Program of Extracorporeal Circulation Technology, Clinical Services Department, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina

^* Address correspondence to: Mindy M. Blackwell, BS, Program of Extracorporeal Circulation Technology, Clinical Services Department, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425

Abstract

Plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COP) is an important determinant in edema formation. Three methods for assessing the COP were evaluated. Direct measurement of COP using the 4420 Wescor Colloid Osmometer was compared to the estimation of COP from both serum total protein and total serum solids (TSS) determinations. Blood samples from twenty adult patients (mean age = 64 years) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery were collected for COP assessment. Sample collection was performed prior to heparinization/hemodilution, during hypothermic bypass and at the conclusion of bypass following protamine administration. The results obtained from each method were analyzed by a two-way analysis of variance. The Bonferroni technique was used for comparison of sample means when the difference was significant (p<0.05). Correlations were reported by linear regression analysis. A statistically significant difference (p<0.01) was found between the three methods. A regression equation for the estimation of COP from total serum solids is offered:

COP = (3.02 * TSS) + 0.65.

Prospective clinical testing between the direct COP measurement and the estimation of COP from TSS using the equation (n=38) revealed a significant correlation (R2 = .932) and no significant difference between the two (p > 0.05).