Using body weight as a pre-hospital fluid infusion device: the relationship between under-body position and flow rate.
Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps · 2008-03-01 · Method & validation
Abstract
This study was designed to identify the most effective underbody position when using the patient's own body weight as an infusion device. Twenty volunteers had an air-less 500 ml bag of saline located at various under-body positions. Mean pressures and flow rates through a 14G cannula were measured in vitro at room temperature. Locating the fluid bag at the buttock cleft delivered the highest mean flow rate at 135 ml/min. This underbody position may provide flow rates sufficient to achieve the clinical aim of fluid resuscitation in the military pre-hospital environment.