Abstract
Objective
To compare the distribution of flow from two commercial and one handmade multihole
wound infusion catheters.
Study design
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.
Clinical relevance
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.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 27,
2012
Received:
December 7,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
