Comparison of the effectiveness of the piston-pump method versus the pressure-infusor method for rapid infusion of fluids

Abstract

Background The piston-pump method is a simple method for rapid administration of fluids. However, some problems regarding effectiveness in increasing the flow rate of fluid administration, occurrence of excessive pressure in the infusion circuit and vessel, and bacterial contamination of fluids are unsolved. We compared the effectiveness of using the piston-pump method with that of the pressureinfusor method.Methods Twelve anesthesiologists were classified randomly into the piston-pump and pressure-infusor groups. They were asked to infuse 500 ml of 0.9% saline three times successively through a 16-G intravenous cannula as rapidly as possible using a pump with a 50-ml syringe or a pressure-infusor at 300 mmHg. The time taken for infusion, the pressure in the infusion circuit and substitute vessel, and bacterial contamination were examined. ResultsThe infusion time (mean ± SD) in the pressure-infusor and piston-pump groups was 233 ± 19 s and 301 ± 48 s, respectively (P < 0.01). There was a significant difference in the infusion time at the first and third attempts of infusion only in the piston-pump group (P < 0.05). The pressure (in mmHg) in the circuit was 131 ± 9 and > 200 (P < 0.01) and in the substitute vessel was 5 ± 1 and 17