Australian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy volume 22, No. 6, 1992

Clinical Assessment of the Springfusor® a New Mechanical Syringe Pump

SUMMARY

Clinical testing of a new, spring-driven syringe pump, the Springfusor®, was carried out in an intensive care unit. A randomised, cross-over study (n = 37) of intermittent intravenous drug delivery methods compared manual injection, volumetric burette, minibag and the Springfusor. Objective data were recorded for volume delivered, infusion time and total nursing time. Six performance characteristics were assessed subjectively. Flow rate, accuracy of delivery time and costs per dose were calculated.

Variation in both flow rate (12.3%) and accuracy (1.6) was best in the Springfusor group (p<0.05), and 92% of Springfusor infusions were completed within +20% of the intended time. Total nursing time was shortest for manual injection. The Springfusor was preferred as the method of first choice by 60% of nurses, and scored higher than the other delivery methods in 4 of the 6 performance characteristics evaluated. The costs of the Springfusor were 2.14, 1.52 and 0.46 times those of manual injection, burette and minibag, respectively.

The Springfusor was superior to the other infusion methods in that it gave more reproducible flow rates and better accuracy. Cost was not a disincentive to its use and it was well accepted by the nursing staff.