What it means
The basic metric unit for measuring liquids. IV fluids often come in 1-liter bags, oxygen flow is set in liters per minute (L/min), and some lab values are given per liter, such as mEq/L or mmol/L. One liter of fluid weighs about 1 kilogram, so a fast weight gain of 1 kg often means about 1 liter of fluid retained.
In a chart
"Oxygen at 2 L/min by nasal cannula; 1 L normal saline infusing at 125 mL/hr."
Remember it
1 liter of water weighs 1 kilogram.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | L (use a capital L so it is not mistaken for the number 1) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | litro |
| Also written | liters, litre, litres |
Related terms
oxygen
A gas in the air that every cell needs, also given as a medicine at higher amounts than room air.
intake and output
The measured record of all fluids a client takes in and all fluids that leave the body over a set time.
infusion
The slow delivery of a fluid or drug into the body, usually into a vein, over a period of time.