What Researchers Did
Researchers evaluated three different large-volume infusion pumps to see how accurately they delivered fluids inside a monoplace hyperbaric chamber under various pressures.
What They Found
At baseline, the pumps performed within ±10% of expected flow. During a carbon monoxide hyperbaric protocol (3 atm abs/2 atm abs), the Baxter, CME, and Zyno pumps delivered 95%, 103%, and 95% of the set flow at 10 mL/hour, respectively. However, at 1 mL/hour, average flows were lower at 91%, 83%, and 83%, showing that accuracy decreased at lower infusion rates, especially with increased pressure.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests that certain infusion pumps could potentially be used to deliver intravenous fluids to Canadian patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy in monoplace chambers. However, medical teams should be aware that accuracy may decrease at very low infusion rates, which could impact medication delivery for patients requiring precise dosing during HBOT.
Canadian Relevance
While this study was not conducted in Canada, it covers the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for carbon monoxide poisoning, which is a Health Canada-recognized indication.
Study Limitations
The study noted that these pumps are not supported by their manufacturers or FDA-cleared for hyperbaric use, and tubing compliance negatively affected performance at lower flow rates.