title: Equipment deadspace and drug administration.
abstract: Equipment deadspace can be a hazard in drug administration. The aim of this study was to measure the size of this problem. The deadspaces of a selection of cannulae, syringes and epidural catheters were measured by displacing the deadspace volume with water and measuring the weight gain. Between 10 and 30% of a 1-ml intravenous dose will remain in the deadspace depending on the type and gauge of the cannulae. The deadspace of an epidural catheter and filter is approximately 1 ml. All cannulae should be flushed after drug administration. Epidural catheters must be flushed with the same solution as the test dose before insertion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University of Sheffield.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Macfie
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004824:Epidural Space; D004867:Equipment Design; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000295:instrumentation; D008508:Medication Errors; D009339:Needles; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013594:Syringes
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations