Evaluation of the safety of a new portable pump for continuous epidural infusion of local anesthetics

The safety of a new portable pump (Baxter Infusor), was evaluated for continuous epidural infusion of local anesthetics. The experimental flows at different temperatures were 1.87 ml.hr-1 at 28 degrees C and 2.14-2.15 ml.hr-1 at 33 degrees C. The average temperature of local anesthetics in this pump attached to patients was 29 degrees C. Concentration of mepivacaine reached the maximal value (1.129 +/- 0.439 micrograms.ml-1) at 12 hours after the application of the infusor. The concentration of mepivacaine was maintained at a constant level from 6th hour to 24th hour. The result indicates that Infusor is a safe device for continuous infusion of local anesthetics because of constant flow and low level of local anesthetics.