In 2019, emergency rooms in the United States were managing over 400,000 patients each day.1 Surges, such as those seen with COVID, can significantly increase those volumes and place further pressure on ED teams to rapidly diagnose, treat and disposition patients. A UK study showed that crowded emergency rooms lead to suboptimal care, with an additional death for every 82 patients delayed for 6-8 hours.2 In the U.S., recent long wait times have mostly been attributed to a nursing shortage.2 These factors all emphasize the need for efficient and expedient treatment and disposition of patients to free up resources for other patients to continue to provide the best possible care.
Patients with a wide range of needs show up at the emergency room. Emergent, critically ill patients often consume the most resources. A critically ill patient with hypotension can require some investigation before a diagnosis can be determined and treatment initiated. A fluid bolus (or challenge) is often a critical component of the evaluation, but the current process is long and inefficient. When a physician orders a fluid bolus, they may have to check back on that patient two or three times over the next hour to assess patient response. That can drain critical time for the patient, the providers and the other patients waiting. Streamlining such care can improve diagnosis and disposition time, save PPE with less frequent room visits, and support higher patient throughput.
With the LifeFlow rapid infusion device, fluid resuscitation can be completed up to 3x faster than pressure bag 3 – and with higher accuracy.4 A fluid bolus can be completed in minutes, before the physician leaves the room, allowing for immediate assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Faster and controlled fluid delivery can allow for faster stabilization of crashing patients, more rapid reassessment of vital signs, and, in the case of shock, can reduce the need for further interventions such as vasopressors and mechanical ventilation.5
As pressure mounts on EDs to improve disposition times in an era of reduced resources and higher patient volumes, LifeFlow can provide an opportunity to improve disposition time and patient throughput goals. Consider LifeFlow for your emergent fluid resuscitation needs.
Want to learn more? Watch this brief video to see how LifeFlow compares to pressure bag.
1. Augustine, J. Latest Data Reveal the ED’s Role as Hospital Admission Gatekeeper. ACEPNow. Dec 20, 2019.
2. Murez, C. Crowded Emergency Rooms Cost Lives: Study. US News and World Report. Jan 19, 2022.
3. Robertson, G., Lane, A., Piehl, M., Whitfill, T., Spangler, H. (2018) Comparison of a novel rapid fluid delivery device to traditional methods. [White paper]. Data in Table 1.
4. Piehl M, Spangler H, Robertson G, Chenet K. (2017). 383 A Novel Technique for Improving Fluid Resuscitation in Septic Shock. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 70(4), S150. Data for accuracy obtained from simulated scenario requiring infusion of three 500mL boluses
5. Leisman D, et al. (2017). Patterns and Outcomes Associated With Timeliness of Initial Crystalloid Resuscitation in a Prospective Sepsis and Septic Shock Cohort. Crit Care Med. Oct;45(10):1596-1606.