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Resistance to fluid flow in veins
1Department of Anesthesia, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Journal of Clinical Monitoring
|July 1, 1996
Summary
This study quantifies venous resistance to fluid infusion in adult patients undergoing surgery. Results show a wide range of venous resistance, with no significant impact from common patient or procedural factors.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Vascular Physiology
- Medical Device Engineering
Background:
- Intravenous (IV) fluid infusion is critical in perioperative care.
- Understanding venous resistance is key to optimizing fluid delivery.
- Previous data on venous resistance to infusion is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the hydraulic resistance to fluid infusion in adult arm veins.
- To establish a distribution of venous resistance values.
- To identify factors influencing venous resistance during IV infusion.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated fluid infusion resistance in 118 adult patients before elective surgery.
- Defined hydraulic resistance as the slope of the pressure-flow relationship.
- Measured venous pressure at various fluid flow rates to calculate resistance in resistance units (RU).
Main Results:
- Venous resistance varied widely, from -12.1 to 732 RU.
- The 50th percentile (median) resistance was 22 RU, and the 95th percentile was 198 RU.
- No significant effect of catheter site, tissue characteristics, age, sex, anxiety, ASA status, or catheter size on venous resistance was found.
Conclusions:
- Provides a normative distribution of venous resistance in adult arm veins.
- Suggests that venous resistance is largely independent of common clinical variables.
- Informs clinical practice regarding expected resistance during intravenous fluid administration.