Venous Physiology Predicts Dehydration in the Pediatric Population

Abstract Background No standard dehydration monitor exists for children. This study attempts to determine the utility of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of a peripheral venous pressure (PVP) waveform to predict dehydration. Materials and methods PVP waveforms were collected from 18 patients. Groups were defined as resuscitated (serum chloride ≥ 100 mmol/L) and hypovolemic (serum chloride Results Admission FFTs were compared between 10 (56%) resuscitated and 8 (44%) hypovolemic patients. The PVP signal power was higher in resuscitated patients (median 0.174 mmHg, IQR: 0.079-0.374 mmHg) than in hypovolemic patients (median 0.026 mmHg, IQR: 0.001-0.057 mmHg), ( P P  = 0.019), whereas significantly increased signal power (median 0.0474 mmHg, IQR: 0.019-0.110 mmHg) was observed in the hypovolemic patients after a fluid bolus at 2.4 Hz ( P Conclusions FFT of PVP waveforms can predict dehydration in hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Further work is needed to determine the utility of PVP analysis to guide fluid resuscitation status in other pediatric populations.