EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management SCBU and Baxter Colleague

Does anyone have experience of Baxter Colleagues being used in their NITU or SCBU areas and if so were they suitable for use.

We are currently looking at purchasing some but would lioke some feed back.

Thanks

David Marshall

David

Baxter Colleague Rate Accuracy

There are questions to be asked:-
Can we reasonably expect the accuracy of a £0.60 standard giving set to match that of a £1.60 set incorporating a specialised pump insert?
The output accuracy of a linear peristaltic pump relies on the tube/insert internal diameter. The relative non-compliance of standard giving set tubing makes it vulnerable to sustained internal diameter reduction (reduced output) from stretching or deformation. There also appears to be evidence of the tubing deforming with run time.
Pump operators should ensure they are utilising the appropriate manufactures giving set and be warned against stretching tubing during set installation and advised to reposition the pumped part of tube say every 6 hours??
Until infusion pumps which actually accurately measure fluid flow and volume appear, we must advise users to verify the pump read delivery against syringe or bag/bottle contents. This is the case with all pumps and may particularly apply to pumps utilising standard giving sets.

The recently published MDA Evaluation 02110 Selecting infusion pumps according to therapy categories (free to NHS Trusts) compares most pumps on the UK market is well worth a look.

Bill

David,

Our SCBU/NNU use the Graseby 3M500, very accurate, gives NO under infusion problems, or any other problems for that matter. Never see them between PPM's.

I would certainly recommend the Graseby 500 volumetric infusion pumps above any other we have in use.

60 odd pence sets CANNOT offer any repeatability or accuracy.

Ian.

Personally I would also have concerns about the apparent lack of accurate in-line pressure sensing and the variability of occlusion alarm thresholds observed between pumps set at the same occlusion alarm setting.