The effect of devices used to reduce the risk of blood spillage or needlestick injury on the flow of intravenous infusion systems

We evaluated the effect of two devices used to reduce needlestick injury an d blood spillage on the flow of saline, polygeline and blood through intrav enous infusion equipment and their effects on methods of increasing flow. T he devices studied all reduced flow compared with control. The reductions w ere less for the reflux valve (less than or equal to 9%) and greater for th e anaesthesia extension set (less than or equal to 59%), with little furthe r reduction in flow when both were used in series (less than or equal to 60 %). Reductions in flow increased with increasing viscosity of the fluid inf used, being greatest with blood. The flow reduction produced by the reflux valve was more than compensated b y increasing pressure of increasing to the next larger cannula size. The fl ow reduction produced by the anaesthesia extension was compensated by incre asing pressure but not by increasing cannula size.