Start-up delays of infusion syringe pumps.
BACKGROUND
We performed a bench experiment to investigate the extent of start-up delays in fluid delivery for four different syringe pumps after initially placing the infusion syringe in the syringe pump.


METHODS
Pump performance was determined at an infusion rate of 1 ml.h-1 with and without a fluid bolus delivered by the infusion pump prior to connecting the infusion line to the simulated patient.


RESULTS
The time (mean +/- SD) from starting the pump up to first fluid delivery (t1) differed considerably between pumps (from 6.75 +/- 4.4 to 57.2 +/- 28.6 min) as did the time to steady state fluid delivery (t2) (from 19.6 +/- 9.3 to 76.3 +/- 29.0 min). Applying an initial bolus of 2 ml before connecting the line to the simulated patient practically eliminated the delay in fluid delivery (t1 ranging from 0.3 +/- 0.1 to 1.1 +/- 0.8 min). This manoeuvre also reduced the time to steady flow delivery (t2 from 6.0 +/- 3.1 to 11.1 +/- 4.3 min, P<0.001) and minimized the differences between syringe pumps.


CONCLUSIONS
Syringe pump design affects start-up delay times because of free play of the syringe. These delays can be eliminated by a start-up bolus of 2 ml prior to connecting the infusion line to the patient.
Neff
T
T
Research Group, Department of Intensive Care and Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Fischer
J
J
Fehr
S
S
Baenziger
O
O
Weiss
M
M
D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013594:Syringes; D013997:Time Factors
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations