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| Rapid Infuser |
A rapid infuser is a medical device used in emergency situations to provide large volumes of blood, blood products or intravenous fluids and drugs to patients who have experienced significant blood loss. It allows for rapid transfusion of these fluids directly into the patient's circulation through an intravenous line. It can deliver fluids much faster than a standard intravenous line or manual pressure infusion systems. This makes them invaluable for trauma patients and those undergoing emergency surgeries who need rapid restoration of blood volume.
How does a Rapid Infuser work?
Rapid Infuser work on the principle of pressure infusion. They consist of an infusor pumping unit attached to an intravenous giving set with inlet and outlet ports. The pumping unit applies positive pressure to infuse fluids through the intravenous tubing at high flow rates. Most rapid infusers can administer fluids up to 1000 ml within 10 minutes or less.
The components of a basic rapid infuser include:
- Infusor pump: This is the main pumping unit that applies pressure to infuse fluids. Modern versions are electrically powered but older models use manual pressure bags.
- IV giving set: This consists of inlet and outlet ports with tubing to connect fluid bags/sources to the patient's intravenous access.
- Pressure regulator: This valve controls the amount of pressure applied by the infusor pump to regulate flow rates.
- Flow rate display: This digital or analog display shows the rate of fluid flow in ml/min.
-Battery/power supply: It need a battery or external power to run the infusor pump.
Working of a rapid infuser is simple - fluids are connected to the inlet port and the pumping unit applies positive pressure through the outlet port and IV line to the patient's vein at high flow rates. Pressure and flow rates can be adjusted using the regulator.
Applications in Medical Emergencies
These infusers see extensive use in trauma and critical care situations to quickly restore blood volume in bleeding patients:
- Trauma resuscitation: For severe blood loss due to accidents, injuries etc. Rapid infusion of packed red blood cells, platelets and plasma is lifesaving till bleeding is controlled.
- Massive transfusions: Defined as replacement of one blood volume within 24 hours. Rapid infusers facilitate administration of 10 or more units of blood in just hours.
- Surgeries: For extensive surgical procedures like liver transplant where large fluid shifts occur. Rapid volume resuscitation optimizes hemodynamics.
- Obstetric hemorrhage: Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal mortality. It enable swift blood replacement to stabilize hemodynamics.
- Burn injuries: Significant fluid shifts happen in large burns leading to hypovolemic shock. It helps restore lost intravascular volume.
These are also used in other emergency situations requiring emergency fluid resuscitation like septic shock, gastrointestinal bleeding, vascular catastrophes and poisoning with acute blood losses. Their high flow rates are unparalleled in stabilizing critically ill bleeding patients fast.
Safety Features
To ensure safe use, most modern rapid infusers incorporate the following safety features:
- Adjustable pressure/flow rate settings to prevent over-infusion and fluid overload. Over-infusion can cause pulmonary edema.
- Automatic shut off if air enters the intravenous line to prevent air embolism, a potentially fatal complication.
- Easy priming to evacuate all air from the giving set before connecting to the patient.
- Audible alarms for excessive pressure, low battery, line disconnections and air entry into the line.
- Drip chambers and inline filters to detect and remove any air bubbles or particulate contaminants from infused fluids.
- Ports and connectors with anti-siphon designs to prevent accidental infusion due to gravity if the fluid bag is elevated.
The correct technique of using rapid infusers and regular monitoring of vital parameters like blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate is important to ensure patient safety during rapid fluid resuscitation. They have undoubtedly revolutionized the management of hemodynamic emergencies needing urgent volume expansion.
Advantages of these Infuser over conventional infusion
Apart from enabling truly rapid volume resuscitation within minutes, it offer several advantages over standard manual or gravity infusion methods:
- Precise control over rate of infusion for different clinical scenarios from 100-1000 ml/10 minutes. Manual methods can't match this level of precision and consistency in flow rates.
- Ability to quickly change infusion rates in response to patient's hemodynamic condition during resuscitation under medical supervision.
- Both hands of medical personnel remain free as infusion is controlled by the pump, allowing uninterrupted patient monitoring and care.
- Consistent delivery of infusate at high flow rates regardless of height of fluid source above the patient which can affect pressure head.
- Potential to reduce time taken to complete large fluid resuscitations - every minute saved can mean the difference between life and death for unstable patients.
- Less chances of air entering IV line compared to manual methods which need constant pressure application and are prone to develop leaks.
- Lower risk of human errors like incorrect setting of drip rates, interrupting infusion while changing fluid bags manually.
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medical device