Mediplus Anaesthetic Products

To ensure the highest levels of safety during TIVA, the Safe Anaesthesia Liaison Group (SALG) in their document “Guaranteeing Drug Delivery in Total Anaesthesia“recommends:

• When administering TIVA a non-return valve is always used on any intravenous fluid lineAll Mediplus IV sets and connectors include non-return valves:
  Anti-reflux valve for the IV fluid line and anti-siphon valves for the syringe pumps
• Sites of intravenous infusions should be visible so they may be monitored for disconnection, leaks or infusions into subcutaneous tissuesMediplus products have soft distal end and/or J-loop configuration to reduce stress on the cannula site and therefore minimise risk of disconnection or cannula dislodgement
• When using equipment, it is essential that clinical staff know its uses and limitationsMediplus, in collaboration with clinicians and TCI pump manufacturers, regularly organises TIVA study days to provide training in TIVA/TCI
• Organisations give preference to clearly labelled intravenous connectors and valvesAll Mediplus products are clearly labelled for intended use.  Our most popular product, the 3-way TIVA Set, is designed to allow a double infusion of drugs for TIVA as well as the administration of a third fluid under gravity.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER:

Low priming volume lines, such as Mediplus’ micro bore tubing, should be used for drug delivery when using syringe pumps.  This will reduce drug wastage after surgery and limit the impact of possible free flow.

The dead space (or common space), which is the volume where all drugs and IV fluids mix, should also be kept to a minimum.   Mediplus multiple infusion sets have a short, wide bore, soft distal end with a small dead space to allow good flow for IV fluids and reduce stress on the cannula.  When the IV drip is stopped, the delay in drug delivery is therefore minimal and when the drip is restarted the volume of drugs flushed into the patient is negligible.  Risk of overdose is greatly reduced.