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Flow rate, syringe size and architecture are critical to start-up performance of syringe pumps

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2007

S. B. Neff ,
T. A. Neff ,
S. Gerber  and
M. M. Weiss
S. B. Neff
Affiliation:
University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Department of Anaesthesia, Zurich, Switzerland University Hospital of Zurich, Department of Anaesthesia, Zurich, Switzerland
T. A. Neff
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Zurich, Department of Anaesthesia, Zurich, Switzerland
S. Gerber
Affiliation:
University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Department of Anaesthesia, Zurich, Switzerland
M. M. Weiss*
Affiliation:
University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Department of Anaesthesia, Zurich, Switzerland
*
Correspondence to: Markus Weiss, Department of Anaesthesia, University Children’s Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 75, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland. E-mail: markus.weiss@kispi.unizh.ch; Tel: +41 44 266 7111; Fax: +41 44 266 7449
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Summary

Background and objective

Significant start-up delays are inherent to syringe infusion pumps, particularly at low infusion rates, as routinely used in children’s anaesthesia and intensive care. Such delays are mainly the result of engagement of gears in the mechanical drive or compliance of the syringe assembly. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of flow rate, syringe size and syringe architecture on fluid delivery during infusion start-up.

Methods

Elapsed time from infusion start to achievement of steady-state flow was gravimetrically determined for various infusion rates (0.1, 0.5, 1 mL h−1), different syringe sizes (10-, 20-, 30-, 50-mL) and syringes of two different brands (BD and Codan). Four measurements for each condition were performed with two identical Alaris® Asena™ GH syringe infusion pumps (total of eight experiments). Statistical analysis was done by two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post-test; P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Start-up time was from 3.6 ± 0.9 min (BD 10-mL syringe, 1.0 mL h−1) to 74.5 ± 26.6 min (BD 50-mL syringe, 0.1 mL h−1). Overall, the start-up time markedly increased with lower flow rate (0.1 mL h−1 vs. 1 mL h−1; P < 0.0001), larger syringe size (50 mL vs. 10 mL; P < 0.01), and the BD brand in comparison with the Codan syringes (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Highest possible flow rate, smaller sized syringes and syringe plungers with reduced compressibility should be preferred in order to avoid significant start-up delays in fluid delivery.

Keywords

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIESINFUSION PUMPSSYRINGES
Type
Original Article
Information
European Journal of Anaesthesiology , Volume 24 , Issue 7 , July 2007 , pp. 602 - 608
Copyright
Copyright © European Society of Anaesthesiology 2007

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