title: Variability of performance of wound infusion catheters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the distribution of flow from two commercial and one handmade multihole wound infusion catheters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open label experimental measurement of flow distribution in a bench top apparatus of handmade (n = 10) and two commercial (n = 10 each) wound infusion catheters with 5-6'' (12-15.2 cm) long diffusion surfaces.
  
  
  METHODS
  The distribution of 6 mL of distilled water injected at three different injection speeds (0.5, 5, and 120 minutes) through individual triangular pieces of felt cloth fitted over six contiguous regions of the diffusion surface of each catheter was measured in triplicate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of flow through the six regions was significantly more uniform at the two faster injection speeds. Ninety two per cent of the 120 minute infusion trials resulted in one or more regions producing negligible flow (<5% of total output), and in 16% of the 120 minute trials all the flow came from just one or two regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Constant-rate infusions of 3 mL hour(-1) provide erratic distribution of flow from wound infusion catheters in a bench top apparatus. Commercial catheters did not outperform handmade catheters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uneven distribution of flow at low infusion speeds may contribute to inconsistent or unsatisfactory pain relief in patients treated with continuous wound infusions of local anesthetics.
authors: Comparative Pain Research Laboratory, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA. bernie_hansen@ncsu.edu
authors: Bernie
authors: B
authors: Hansen
authors: B Duncan X
authors: BD
authors: Lascelles
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Thomson
authors: Venita
authors: V
authors: DePuy
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D059408:Pain Management; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D014947:Wounds and Injuries
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local