Adult and Pediatric Porcine Model of Acute Volume Overload

Our team's translational research is in how vascular waveforms, specifically the low-frequency venous waveform, change in various volume and respiratory states. We are trying to understand better and improve volume status monitoring. Our research has revealed that the proper analysis of the fundamental frequency and harmonics of the pulse rate, we can sensibly monitor volume status.

This novel discovery brings excitement that we may be able to achieve better volume status monitoring in a non-invasive way. Given the novel nature of our research, obtaining venous waveforms in extreme human conditions can be a big challenge. That is why porcine models such as this one are so important to what we do and what we hope to achieve.

The significant finding of our research is that waveforms from the venous side, a traditionally ignored field, hold a vast amount of information, specifically the low-frequency spectrum, which is very sensitive to volume status changes. This discovery has given hope that volume monitoring in humans can be improved upon in a non-invasive way. Volume overload is a massive problem in medicine.

Little research is being done on how to properly monitor against it. This protocol establishes a reproducible porcine model that can aid future scientists work to tackle this problem.