Temperature of refrigerated i.v. fluids and admixtures during infusion

The effects of infusion rate, drop size, and solution composition on the infusion temperature of i.v. fluids and admixtures that had been stored at refrigerated temperatures were determined. Polyvinyl chloride bags containing 5% dextrose injection, 0.9% sodium chloride injection, cefazolin 20 mg/mL in 5% dextrose injection, or total parenteral nutrient (TPN) solution were removed from the refrigerator after 12 hours and hung from i.v. poles. An administration set was attached to each bag, and the distal end of the administration tubing was placed in a beaker-funnel-flask apparatus that served as a collection vessel for effluent during simulated i.v. infusions. Thermo-couples were inserted into each i.v. bag and positioned under the distal end of each administration set to monitor the temperatures of the solution in the bag and of the effluent. 5% Dextrose injection and 0.9% sodium chloride injection were studied at two flow rates (125 and 60 mL/hr) using two different administration sets (60-drops/mL microdrip set and 15-drops/mL primary set); the cefazolin admixture and the TPN solution were studied at both flow rates using the primary set only. The temperatures at each probe were measured in triplicate at the start of each infusion and at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 25 minutes during the infusion; each infusion was repeated three times. All of the solutions warmed significantly as they passed through the administration sets. Throughout all time intervals, the cefazolin admixtures had the smallest proximal-distal temperature increase, and the TPN solutions had the greatest increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)