Accuracy of training blood volume quantification using a visual estimation tool

doi:10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2021.03.002

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the use of a specially designed visual estimation tool may improve accuracy in quantifying blood volumes related to surface spreading.

METHODS: A prospective, paired-control, single-blinded experimental study was performed at a medical university. Anesthesiologists and emergency medical personnel estimated various blood volumes on surfaces with varying absorptivity (carpet, towel, polyvinyl chloride, wooden flooring) in an experimental setting. We assessed the sensitivity of training blood volume quantification using a self-designed visual estimation tool by comparing the accuracy of visual blood volume estimations before and after practical training with the tool.

RESULTS: A total of 352 estimations by 44 participants were evaluated. Accurate estimations improved significantly from pre-training to post-training (P<0.05). The sensitivity of blood volume quantification was 33.0% after training with the visual estimation tool. Estimations did not depend on age, profession, gender or years of the estimator’s professional experience.

CONCLUSIONS: Training with a visual estimation tool by professional rescuers can improve the estimation accuracy of blood volumes spread on surfaces with varying absorptivity.

Key words: Academic training, Emergency medicine, Hemorrhage control, Major bleeding

Janett Kreutziger, Philip Puchner, Stefan Schmid, Wolfgang Mayer, Harald Prossliner, Wolfgang Lederer. Accuracy of training blood volume quantification using a visual estimation tool[J]. World Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2021, 12(3): 174-178.

Figures/Tables 3

References 16

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Variables	Pre-training		Variables	Post -training		P-value
Variables	Estimated blood volume, median (range), mL	Percent error of estimated blood volume, median (range), %	Variables	Estimated blood volume, median (range), mL	Percent error of estimated blood volume, median (range), %	P-value
Carpet 1,000 mL	300 (40-1,600)	-70 (-96 to +60)	Carpet 1,500 mL	1,050 (250-3,500)	-30 (-83 to +133)	<0.001
Towel 500 mL	800 (50-2,000)	+60 (-90 to +300)	Towel 1,000 mL	1,000 (500-2,500)	0 (-50 to +150)	0.026
PVC 100 mL	175 (30-700)	+75 (-70 to +600)	PVC 250 mL	250 (100-600)	0 (-60 to +140)	<0.001
Wood 250 mL	140 (20-1,500)	-44 (-92 to +500)	Wood 100 mL	125 (80-300)	+25 (-20 to +200)	0.041

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