Rapid Volume Infusers: Which Is Best?

Infusion devices that deliver large quantities of warmed fluid or blood are widely used in emergency departments, critical care units, and operating rooms. To prevent . . .

Infusion devices that deliver large quantities of warmed fluid or blood are widely used in emergency departments, critical care units, and operating rooms. To prevent venous air embolism, the devices incorporate a system to expel gas (air) generated during heating of the fluid. The authors of two recent studies assessed the performance of several devices.

In the first study, the author compared flow rates and warming capabilities of the Belmont fluid management system (FMS) 2000 infusion device (Belmont Instrument Corporation) and the Level 1 rapid infusion device (Level 1 Technologies, Inc.). The study was partly funded by the Belmont Instrument Corporation, and the author was a product development consultant for the Belmont FMS 2000. The d…

Reviewing Author

Ron M. Walls, MD, FRCPC, FACEP