Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Effect of changes in syringe driver height on flow: a small quantitative study.

Andrew I Donald1, Meher P Chinthamuneedi, Douglas Spearritt

  • 1Intensive Care Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia.

Critical Care and Resuscitation : Journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine
|June 1, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Modifications to rapid response team (medical emergency team) activation criteria and its impact on patient safety.

Internal medicine journal·2022
Same journal

A pragmatic risk-stratified framework for using large language models in intensive care medicine: A narrative review.

Critical care and resuscitation : journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine·2026
Same journal

The cost analysis of remifentanil and fentanyl for analgosedation in mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care: Post hoc analysis of an open-labelled pilot randomised controlled study.

Critical care and resuscitation : journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine·2026
Same journal

Analgesia and sedation practice in children in intensive care in Australia and New Zealand: A survey.

Critical care and resuscitation : journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine·2026
Same journal

Evaluation of the clinical impact of different telemedicine practices in intensive care units: A stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial (TELESCOPE 2): Study protocol.

Critical care and resuscitation : journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine·2026
Same journal

Vasopressors or fluids for initial resuscitation in septic shock: A matter of clinical judgement.

Critical care and resuscitation : journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine·2026
Same journal

Sodium bicarbonate in critical illness: Correcting acidaemia without changing outcomes?

Critical care and resuscitation : journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine·2026
See all related articles

Vertical displacement of syringe pumps causes significant drug delivery errors, including boluses and flow cessation. Even small height changes can impact infusion accuracy, affecting patient safety in critical care settings.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Devices
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Engineering

Background:

  • Syringe pumps are critical for precise drug delivery in intensive care and theatre settings.
  • Vertical displacement of infusion devices can potentially alter drug delivery accuracy.
  • Previous studies have indicated flow irregularities, but further quantification is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify flow irregularities in drug delivery caused by vertical displacement of syringe pumps.
  • To assess the impact of height variations on syringe pump performance in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

  • A bench experiment was conducted using a standard syringe pump and line set.
  • A dye solution was infused through graduated tubing to measure flow.
  • The effect of a 30 cm vertical displacement (elevation and lowering) on flow rate was quantified over time.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • A 30 cm elevation caused drug delivery boluses up to seven times the programmed rate (at 2mL/h).
  • Delivery rate changes and recovery times were inversely proportional to the programmed rate.
  • Lowering the pump by 30 cm resulted in no-flow periods up to 180 seconds (at 2mL/h).

Conclusions:

  • Vertical displacement of syringe pumps by 30 cm leads to significant bolus and cessation phenomena.
  • These findings confirm previous observations and show irregularities with smaller displacements than previously tested.
  • Further research on various pump brands is necessary to address this clinical problem.