title: Criteria for choosing an intravenous infusion line intended for multidrug infusion in anaesthesia and intensive care units.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims are to identify critical parameters influencing the drug mass flow rate of infusion delivery to patients during multidrug infusion and to discuss their clinical relevance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of literature was conducted in January 2016 using Medline, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and Scopus online databases.
  
  
  METHODS
  References relating to the accuracy of fluid delivery via gravity-flow intravenous (IV) infusion systems and positive displacement pumps, components of IV administration sets, causes of flow rate variability, potential complications due to flow rate variability, IV therapies especially at low flow rates and drug compatibilities were considered relevant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several parameters impact the delivery of drugs and fluids by IV infusion. Among them are the components of infusion systems that particularly influence the flow rate of medications and fluids being delivered. By their conception, they may generate significant start-up delays and flow rate variability. Performing multidrug infusion requires taking into account two main points: the common dead volume of drugs delivered simultaneously with potential consequences on the accuracy and amount of drug delivery and the prevention of drug incompatibilities and their clinical effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To prevent the potentially serious effects of flow rate variability on patients, clinicians should receive instruction on the fluid dynamics of an IV administration set and so be able to take steps to minimise flow rate changes during IV therapy.
authors.affiliation: University Lille, EA 7365 - GRITA - Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, 59000 Lille, France; CHU Lille, Institut de Pharmacie, 59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maiguy-Foinard
authors.affiliation: University Lille, EA 7365 - GRITA - Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, 59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Genay
authors.affiliation: University Lille, EA 7365 - GRITA - Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, 59000 Lille, France; CHU Lille, Institut de Pharmacie, 59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lannoy
authors.affiliation: University Lille, EA 7365 - GRITA - Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, 59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barthélémy
authors.affiliation: University Lille, EA 7365 - GRITA - Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, 59000 Lille, France; CHU Lille, Pôle d'Anesthésie Réanimation, 59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lebuffe
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital of Poitiers, Poitiers, France.
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Debaene
authors.affiliation: University Lille, EA 7365 - GRITA - Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, 59000 Lille, France; CHU Lille, Institut de Pharmacie, 59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Odou
authors.affiliation: University Lille, EA 7365 - GRITA - Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, 59000 Lille, France; CHU Lille, Institut de Pharmacie, 59000 Lille, France. Electronic address: bertrand.decaudin@univ-lille2.fr.
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Décaudin
mesh_terms: D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000379:methods*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D013594:Syringes
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous
keywords: Drug delivery systems; Drug incompatibility; Equipment design; Infusion pumps; Infusions; Intravenous; Syringes