To determine if peripheral intravenous cannula dead space is taken into account when setting up intravenous infusions (in particular nitrate infusions) in the emergency department. A postal survey of UK emergency departments. Of the 143 (58%) of UK departments who responded, only 15% reported priming the cannula before commencing the nitrate infusion.
Knowledge of peripheral intravenous cannula dead space in UK emergency departments is very poor and, as a result, there is probably significant widespread under treatment of patients in severe cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. Departments should amend their treatment guidelines to take account of peripheral cannula dead space.
Peripheral line dead space: an unrecognised phenomenon?