Case Overview
A 75-year-old female with a history of sepsis and dehydration presented to the Emergency Department at Little Company of Mary with a chief complaint of generalized weakness. Vital signs on arrival were indicative of septic shock with a blood pressure of 64/32 mmHg and a heart rate of 120 bpm, yielding a shock index of approximately 1.9, well above the ≥ 1.0 threshold associated with hemodynamic compromise and approaching values linked to significantly increased mortality risk in sepsis populations. Rapid fluid resuscitation was initiated via a 20-gauge peripheral IV using the LifeFlow rapid infuser.
Initial Presentation
Upon arrival, the patient was hemodynamically unstable, dehydrated, and in septic shock with a blood pressure of 64/32 mmHg and a heart rate of 120 bpm. Given the clinical presentation and patient history, the presumptive diagnosis was septic shock. Peripheral IV access was established via a 20-gauge catheter, and the decision was made to proceed with immediate fluid resuscitation.
Interventions & Outcomes
Using the LifeFlow, the care team delivered 2 liters of IV fluid through the 20-gauge peripheral IV. No additional fluids were given via alternative methods during this period.
Following resuscitation with LifeFlow, the patient demonstrated a meaningful improvement in blood pressure. She was admitted to the ICU for continued monitoring and management based on her hemodynamic improvement.
The treating nurse, Sherry Neforas, RN, noted that LifeFlow was noticeably faster than conventional infusion methods and said that LifeFlow was extremely easy to set up and operate compared to traditional methods. Reflecting on the clinical impact, she noted that administering fluids faster improved both her ability to care for the patient and her perception of the care outcome.