Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · May 1990
Efficacy of large-bore intravenous fluid administration sets designed for rapid volume resuscitation.
We tested the hypothesis that large-bore iv tubing sets provide greater in vitro flow rates than conventional sets currently utilized for the administration of normal saline. The study was conducted in two parts. First, flow rates were measured using a conventional iv tubing set under gravity and 300 mm Hg of pressure, and four large-bore iv tubing sets under gravity. ⋯ Mean time necessary for the 28 anesthesiology staff and residents to pressurize and deflate a conventional tubing set was 65 sec/bag of packed RBC. We conclude that a considerable amount of time can be saved by utilizing large-bore iv tubing sets instead of conventional pressurized sets during massive volume resuscitation. Clinical trials are indicated to corroborate these results.