Emergency rectal infusion of fluid in rural or remote settings.

Emergency pre-hospital treatment of haemorrhage includes immediate fluid replacement therapy to restore circulating blood volume, reverse hypotension to perfuse vital organs and reduce the risk of death (National Institute for Clinical Excellence 2004). In remote or rural settings, however, a lack of sterile fluids, intravenous equipment or the knowledge to use them might make this therapy difficult. This article explains why, in such situations, rectal fluid infusion is an easy and effective solution to fluid replacement.