Temperature relationship to distance and flow rate of warmed i.v. fluids.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether therapeutic benefit is obtained by administering warmed IV fluid to hypothermic children.


METHODS
Saline at 37 C in standard IV tubing was subjected to temperature measurements within a fluid warmer and at 5, 25, 45, 65, 85, and 105 cm distally. Flow rates varied from 20 to 1,000 mL/hr.


METHODS
The Children's Hospital of Alabama emergency department.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Temperature readings were made every minute until the volume required to flush the tubing had infused. Only at rates of 750 and 1,000 mL/hr did the fluid remain warmer than 32 C more than 25 cm from the warmer.


CONCLUSIONS
At flow rates usual in pediatrics, hypothermic patients must be connected to fluid warmers by lengths of IV tubing shorter than customary or practical in the ED to benefit from this treatment modality.
Faries
G
G
Department of Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham.
Johnston
C
C
Pruitt
K M
KM
Plouff
R T
RT
D002648:Child; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000628:therapy*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D010825:Physics; D013696:Temperature