Flow characteristics of Luer and non‐Luer spinal needles

Monteiro, R. S.; Pillai, A.; Choi, Sang Woong; Bogod, David; Yentis, Steve

doi:10.1111/anae.13851

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Although direct clinical comparison of these results is difficult, they suggest differences between needle brands in terms of the incidence and degree of needle bending during use. These findings are comparable with the findings of our affiliated study showing significantly different flow characteristics between spinal needles of the same size from different manufacturers . To our knowledge there have not been standardised, independent tests of strength comparing different brands of spinal needle.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Strength of commonly used spinal needles: the ability to deform and resist deformation

Pillai

Monteiro²,

Choi³

et al. 2017

Anaesthesia

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We investigated the strength of commonly used spinal needles in relation to the amount of deformation, and registered forces during standardised testing. We investigated differences between manufacturers for the same length and gauge of Luer and non-Luer needles, and examined the effect of the internal stylet in terms of needle strength. A specialised rig was designed to perform the testing in both the horizontal and axial plane, reflecting common industrial tests and clinical use. Needles from four commonly used manufacturers were used (Vygon, Becton Dickinson, B Braun, and Pajunk). Needles of 25 G and 27 G were tested in 90-mm and 120-mm lengths. We found significant differences in terms of the size of final deformation and 'toughness'/resistance to deformation between needles of different brands. There were also significant differences between horizontal tests conducted as an industry standard and our own axial test. This may have bearing on clinical use in terms of the incidence of bending and breakage. The presence of the internal stylet resulted in significantly greater toughness in many needles, but had little effect on the degree of deformation. Comparison of Luer and non-Luer needles of the same brand and size showed few significant differences in strength. This result is reassuring, given the imminent change from Luer to non-Luer needles that is to occur in the UK.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Strength of commonly used spinal needles: the ability to deform and resist deformation

Pillai

Monteiro²,

Choi³

et al. 2017

Anaesthesia

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“…The ISO 18250 series of standards was developed to address the reservoir devices with unique connectors including a neuraxial reservoir connector (ISO 18250‐6). Given the fact that the non‐Lüer NRFit™ connectors for neuraxial devices have a smaller internal diameter lumen compared to the Lüer variants, flow rates of CSF during diagnostic and therapeutic lumbar punctures decrease, possibly affecting clinical practice and outcome (eg, longer procedures) 31 . Incompatibility between devices with different connectors and compatibility between pumps, giving sets and connectors may be an issue.…”

Section: Will Iso 80369‐6 (Nrfit™) Connectors Prevent All Wrong‐route Errors?mentioning

confidence: 99%

The lure of the Lüer connector: Non‐Lüer connectors in regional anaesthesia

Wiepking

Zundert

2021

Acta Anaesthesiol Scand

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Health service professionals do not have perfect vigilance. There will always be the possibility that a serious untoward incident can occur due to crossover injections of medication being administered via the wrong route. The universality of the Lüer connector made it very easy to connect several medical devices for different therapeutic uses. Although this was considered a bonus, it also showed the downside as a string of incidents, leading to permanent harm and even death, occurred, warranting actions to prevent the chance of misconnections and wrong‐route injections. The International Organisation for Standardisation introduced specific ISO 80 369 connectors for use in different medical systems, with the ISO 80369‐6 series of standards specifically designed to improve safety in regional anaesthesia. Human error can never be completely eliminated, but the risk of a patient inadvertently suffering from an inadvertent wrong‐route injection can be reduced through the use of new ‘fit and no‐fit’ technology. This article focuses on the universality of the Lüer connector and the introduction of the newly engineered non‐Lüer connectors, for specific use in medical systems.

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“…With the introduction of these new connector systems into clinical practice, previously unidentified problems have arisen . For example, use of the new EnFit ® connectors resulted in dosing inaccuracies with the lowest volume (1 mL, 3 mL, and 5 mL) ENFit ® syringes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%