Clinical evaluation of a new small volume infusion system in surgical intensive care patients

When administering intravenous fluids or medications, it is difficult to maintain a constant rate of flow using standard infusion sets. Inexperienced personnel may find flow regulating clamps difficult to set, and an improper adjustment may result in a large error in the infusion rate. Changes in the patient's venous pressure may result in variations in flow ate. Because of difficulties in maintaining desired rates of intravenous infusion, devices which closely control intravenous fluid administration have been developed over the last two decades. a variety of infusion pumps and flow rate regulators are available for administration of parenteral infusions. Two other basic types of infusion pumps are in current use . Medical devices, including infusion pumps, marketed after May 26, 1976, must undergo safety and efficacy testing prior to marketing. This study was designed as an opentrial to evaluate the safety and accuracy of the 3M SVI in surgical intensive care patients.