What it means
The see-through part of IV tubing just below the spike that goes into the bag. It lets the nurse see that fluid is flowing and count the drops for a gravity infusion. It also keeps air from entering the line, as long as it is not completely full or empty.
For the nurse
When priming the tubing, squeeze the drip chamber until it is about one-third to one-half full. For a gravity rate, count the drops falling in the chamber for one full minute.
At a glance
| Also written | drip chambers |
|---|
Related terms
infusion
The slow delivery of a fluid or drug into the body, usually into a vein, over a period of time.
gtt
An abbreviation for drop or drops, from the Latin gutta and guttae.
drop factor
The number of drops in 1 mL of fluid for a given set of IV tubing, printed on the package.