Computer Simulation Model for Transient Transcapillary Fluid Exchange

The dynamic changes in pressures, flow, and transcapillary fluid exchange which occur in the isolated dog hindlimb in response to a sudden increase in capillary hydrostatic pressure were simulated on a digital computer. The differential equation with time-varying parameters was set in the state-space form and the transient solution was found by means of the matrix exponential technique. The close approximation of the simulated curves with recorded phenomenon suggests that this technique may be useful in providing further insight into factors which are major variables controlling the fluid equilibrium in mammalian tissue, but are currently not possible to measure directly.