ABSTRACT
The volume effect of an infusion fluid is a central issue in fluid therapy. This usually implies how much of the infused fluid is retained in the bloodstream or, expressed in another way, how much the blood volume (BV) is increased in response to the infusion. The BV-expanding properties are very important to the capacity of the fluid to restore an impaired hemodynamic situation, and an understanding of this is of crucial importance for the clinician.
