Low cost devices for measuring intravenous fluid delivery and response
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessing and optimising the performance of low cost devices for measuring intravenous fluid delivery and response
IRAS ID
216349
Contact name
Jamie Rylance
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 12 months, 0 days
Research summary
Infections can lead to sepsis which is when the body’s immune and circulatory system begin to behave abnormally, and often counter-productively. 31.5 million cases per year are estimated worldwide, and the average death rate is 17%. Initial treatment for sepsis is with antibiotics, controlling the site of any infection, and giving fluids to treat a low blood pressure.\n\nIt is difficult to know how much fluid to give patients; their responses vary, and too much fluid can cause harm. This is particularly a problem in Low Income Countries, where resources are very limited, and Intensive Care Facilities do not exist.\n\nWe have developed two low cost devices to help doctors treat such patients. We would like to test them on patients in the UK who do not have infection, but whose blood pressure responses behave in a similar way. We want to use the devices in parallel with normal patient monitoring so that we can estimate the device performance in the “real world“: patients on intensive care units recovering from liver resection operations provide this opportunity.\n\nThe devices are:\n1) A weighing device from which the usual fluid bag is suspended. This can monitor how quickly fluid is being delivered, and alert doctors if this is faster or slower than expected. It will not determine or alter management, and will not interfere with other usual monitors.\n2) A device for measuring responses to a “straight leg raise“ (SLR) - a routine clinical test in which a patient is monitored while their legs are raised to 45 degrees. Improvements in the heart function during this test suggest the patient needs more fluid. Usually, invasive monitoring is required to measure response. Our device uses a standard measurement cuff but has upgraded electronics in order to allow faster successive measurements to detect the rapid blood pressure change after the leg raise as well as improved data recording. From a patient’s perspective, in the same way as a routine blood pressure cuff.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0860
Date of REC Opinion
22 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion