Downward movement of syringe pumps reduces syringe output

Abstract

We studied how lowering a syringe pump and changing the outflow pressure could affect syringe pump output. We experimentally reduced the height of three different syringe pump systems by 80 cm (adult setting) or 130 cm (neonatal setting), as can happen clinically, using five flow rates. We measured the time of backward flow, no flow and the total time without flow. An exponential negative correlation was present between infusion rate and time without flow (r2=0.809 to 0.972, P<0.01). Minimum flow rates of 4.4 and 2.6 ml h(-1) respectively were calculated to give 60 and 120 s without infusion. The compliance of the different syringe pumps and their infusion systems was linearly correlated with the effective time without infusion (r2=0.863, P<0.05). We conclude that the height of the syringe pumps should not be changed during transportation. If vertical movement of the syringe pump is necessary, the drugs should be diluted so that the flow rate is at least 5 ml h(-1).

The Panomat® P-10 micro-volumetric infusion pump is suitable for continuous drug administration at minimal flow rates

“…Below 1 mL·hr -1 , drug delivery may be delayed or interrupted for several minutes up to hours after vertical displacement of the infusion pump. 5 ZDDT (time with suspended drug delivery) raises with decreasing infusion rates following roughly a 1/X ratio (e.g., halving the infusion rate doubles the ZDDT). 5 If the tested conventional syringe pump infusion line assembly, which proved to have the best performance compared to earlier investigations, had been used for the above mentioned intrathecal drug administration at 4 µL·hr -1 , and assuming that halving the infusion rate doubles the ZDDT, a calculated ZDDT of approximately 13 hr would have resulted.…”

“…5 ZDDT (time with suspended drug delivery) raises with decreasing infusion rates following roughly a 1/X ratio (e.g., halving the infusion rate doubles the ZDDT). 5 If the tested conventional syringe pump infusion line assembly, which proved to have the best performance compared to earlier investigations, had been used for the above mentioned intrathecal drug administration at 4 µL·hr -1 , and assuming that halving the infusion rate doubles the ZDDT, a calculated ZDDT of approximately 13 hr would have resulted. [6][7][8] Besides interruption of drug administration, it is con- ceivable that large ZDDTs and retrograde aspiration of blood into a catheter carries the potential risk of accidental catheter occlusion.…”

“…However, no data are available about its performance during vertical displacement which in conventional syringe infusion pumps can lead to harmful interruption of drug delivery or to bolus injection. 1,4,5 Fluid delivery was therefore assessed after negative vertical displacement at minimal flow rates and compared to a common conventional syringe pump infusion line assembly.…”

Accuracy of a peristaltic finger-type infusion pump during hyperbaric oxygen therapy

“…The pump we tested in the present study (Terumo type TE-171) has this degree of accuracy (under normal atmospheric pressure). However, under some circumstances pumps may show a degree of inaccuracy, even at 1 ATA [7]. We performed the present study because the TE-171 pump had not previously been evaluated at the levels at which HBO is performed.…”

In-line filter included into the syringe infusion pump assembly reduces flow irregularities

“…Syringe pump gaps and syringe and infusion line compliance facilitate fluid pooling into or fluid emptying from the system during vertical pump displacement and result in start-up delays [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11].…”