title: A prospective, randomised clinical evaluation of a new safety-orientated injectable drug administration system in comparison with conventional methods.
abstract: Fifteen anaesthetists were observed while providing anaesthesia for 15 pairs of adult cardiac surgical operations, using conventional methods for one of each pair and a new drug administration system designed to reduce error for the other. Aspects of each method were rated by users on 10-cm visual analogue scales (10 being best). The new system was rated more favourably than conventional methods in terms of safety (median [range] = 8.1 [6.8-9.7] vs. 7.1 [2.6-9.3] cm; p = 0.001) and usability (8.5 [5.9-9.4] vs. 7.5 [3.2-9.8] cm; p=0.027). The new system saved preparation time both before anaesthesia (median [range] = 180 [32-480] vs. 360 [120-600] s; p=0.013) and during anaesthesia (10 [2-38] vs. 12 [10-60] s; p=0.009). Prefilled syringes for the new system increased costs by euro 23.00 per anaesthetic (p = 0.041), but this increase is likely to be offset by the potential of the new system to decrease costly iatrogenic harm by preventing drug error.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Green Lane Hospital, Private Bag 92-189, Auckland, New Zealand. craigw@adhb.govt.nz
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Merry
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Gander
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D016527:Drug Costs; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004348:Drug Labeling; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods; D013594:Syringes
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous