A NOVEL DEVICE FOR PATIENT-CONTROLLED SEDATION - LABORATORY AND CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF THE BAXTER-INTERMATE LV250 INFUSOR AND PATIENT-CONTROL MODULE

The Baxter Intermate LV250 infusor is a large capacity, high flow mech anical infusor, designed to deliver viscous solutions and suspensions. The objective of the laboratory study was to evaluate the LV250 infus or when used with either 0.9% sodium chloride solution or an emulsion, propofol 1%. Following this, the LV250 infusor with the patient-contr ol module was assessed in the clinical setting as to its suitability f or use in patient-controlled sedation with a propofol and lignocaine m ixture. Between reservoir volumes of 250 and 55 ml, the LV250 infusor was found to infuse a propofol 1% and lignocaine mixture at a lower fl ow compared with the sodium chloride solution, 170 ml.h(-1) and 260 ml .h(-1) respectively. The lower flow with the propofol mixture may be a result of its higher viscosity. All patients using the LV250 infusor for patient-controlled sedation found it easy to use and stated that t hey were able to achieve their desired level of sedation. All patients maintained arterial oxygen saturations above 95%. The LV250 infusor p erformed reliably and with little inter-device variation, and with the patient-control module could be used as an alternative to electronic devices for providing patient-controlled sedation. Compared with elect ronic infusors, its advantages include compactness and simplicity of d esign.