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PubMedDate not supplied

The effect on syringe performance of fluid storage and repeated use: implications for syringe pumps.

Syringe stiction has been reported to cause syringe pump malfunction, hence the effect on syringe performance of syringe use and the formulations used in the syringe were investigated. The force required for syringe plunger motion (at 2.5 mm min-1), when filled with soybean oil emulsion (SBOE) and with water, and the extraction of silicone oil from syringes by these fluids, were measured for Primo, Talus and Terumo 10 mL, and Terumo 50 mL syringes. The breakloose, average extrusion and maximum force required to maintain plunger motion increased after storage of SBOE for 7 days in all syringes tested (p < 0.05). The storage of water increased the breakloose force of all syringes, but only increased the maximum force of Talus syringes, and both the average extrusion and maximum forces of Terumo 10 mL syringes. The mechanism for this is most likely swelling of the elastomer of the piston due to sorption of fluid. The force was found to increase logarithmically with repeated syringe use. Electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to measure the silicone oil content of syringe extractions. Three extractions were performed: repeated flushing, vigorous washing, and storage for 7 days with occasional agitation. Up to 69.4% of the silicone oil present in the syringes was extracted with both water and SBOE when they were stored or washed. In contrast to water, SBOE also extracted the lubricant when the syringe was filled and flushed immediately. If syringes are refilled, stored filled before use, or used over a prolonged period, particularly with a SBOE formulation, syringe striction may occur during infusion with a syringe pump.

Drug Storage↗

PubMed2000

Syringe size and flow rate affect drug delivery from syringe pumps.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of syringe size and infusion rate on drug delivery after vertical displacement of syringe pumps. METHODS: Four syringes (10 ml, 20 ml, 30 ml, 50 ml) were studied at three infusion speeds (2 ml x hr(-1), 1 ml x hr(-1) and 0.5 ml x hr(-1)). Fluid delivery was measured gravimetrically using an electronic balance. Aspiration volume (amount of fluid retracted into the syringe-infusion line assembly) and zero-drug delivery time (time between the lowering of the syringe pump and reattainment of the initial weight) were determined after lowering the syringe pump 130 cm or 50 cm. Then, infusion bolus was measured after elevating the pump to its initial position. Syringe compliance was calculated from the occlusion release bolus at an occlusion pressure of 300 mmHg. RESULTS: Zero-drug delivery time, aspiration volume and infusion bolus increased with syringe size (P < 0.0001). At 0.5 ml x hr(-1), a zero-drug delivery time of 29.7 +/- 0.6 min was recorded for the 50 ml syringe and 5.5 +/- 0.15 min for the 10 ml syringe. As infusion rates increased, zero-drug delivery times decreased following a 1/x ratio. Zero-drug delivery time highly correlated with calculated syringe compliance (Pearson's r = 0.97, P < 0.001), which was closely related to syringe plunger area (R2 = 0.93, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Vertical displacement of syringe pumps causes flow irregularities which correlate directly with syringe size and indirectly with infusion rate. Extreme vertical maneuvering of syringe pumps should be avoided. Infusion rates > or = 1 ml x hr(-1) and low-compliant, small syringes are recommended when highly concentrated drugs are administered.

Humans↗

PubMed1998

Access to sterile syringes in Maine: pharmacy practice after the 1993 repeal of the syringe prescription law.

In October 1993, the Maine legislature repealed the prescription law regulating the sale of syringes. The new law allowed but did not require licensed pharmacists to dispense syringes without a prescription to anyone 18 years of age or older. From November 1995 to January 1996, we conducted a telephone survey of 208 Maine pharmacists to evaluate the sale of syringes with and without a prescription and to assess pharmacists' willingness to sell syringes without a prescription. We found that 94% of pharmacists were willing, in all cases or at the discretion of the pharmacist, to sell syringes without a prescription. However, when asked specifically about willingness to sell syringes without a prescription to suspected injection drug users (IDUs) > or =18 years of age, 47% were willing, 40% were not willing, and 13% did not know or declined to answer. Pharmacists reported other requirements for the purchase of syringes without a prescription, such as the requirement for the customer to provide a reasonable justification for the purchase. In all, there were 31 (15%) pharmacists in the sample willing to sell syringes to without a prescription with no additional requirements for purchase to suspected IDUs as permitted by law. There were few negative incidents reported involving IDUs and the sale of syringes without a prescription since amendment of the law. Although sales of syringes without a prescription were reported, the numbers sold fell short of the estimated number of syringes required for IDUs in Maine to use a new syringe for every injection. Despite the change in the prescription law intended to increase access to syringes, the data suggest barriers such as drug paraphernalia laws and pharmacy policies may prevent IDUs from purchasing syringes and contribute to ongoing transmission of HIV. Amendment of the drug paraphernalia and syringe possession laws, clarification of the legitimate medical purpose of access to sterile syringes for IDUs, and offering pharmacists continuing education on the prevention of blood-borne disease appear to be necessary steps in the effort to decrease the transmission of HIV among IDUs in Maine.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

High street prices of syringes correlate with strict syringe possession laws.

The current epidemic of injection drug use in the United States and abroad has precipitated an increase in transmission of infectious diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human T-lymphotrophic virus II (HTLV-II) in injection drug users (IDUs) who share syringes and other injection equipment. Sharing is often due to a lack of available sterile syringes, which is, in part, a result of laws and regulations controlling the purchase and possession of syringes. These laws, in turn, raise the price of questionably sterile black market syringes, inadvertently encouraging the reuse and sharing of syringes. To date, very little information has been gathered on the street price of syringes in different communities. We surveyed 42 needle exchange programs (NEPs) in the United States in July and August 1998 to determine the street prices of syringes. The relationship among local laws regulating syringe possession, the enforcement of those laws, and street syringe prices was examined. There was a strong correlation between the presence of syringe possession laws and higher street syringe price ($2.87 vs. $1.14, p< .01). In areas with syringe possession laws, cost was significantly higher when laws were perceived to be enforced strictly ($3.66 vs. $2.08, p<.01). Street prices for syringes are an easily quantifiable indirect measure of availability of sterile syringes and may reflect syringe sharing and reuse.

Communicable Disease Control↗

PubMed2005

[The effect of colored syringes and a colored sheet on the incidence of syringe swaps during anesthetic management].

BACKGROUND: Syringe swap is an important problem in anesthetic care, causing harm to patients. We examined the effect of colored syringe and a colored sheet on the incidence of syringe swaps during anesthetic management. METHODS: We determined the color code. The blue-syringe contains local anesthetics; yellow-syringe, sympathomimetic drugs; and white-syringe with a red label fixed opposite the scale, muscle relaxants. The colored sheet displays the photographs of the syringe with drug name, dose and volume. The colored syringe and colored sheet were supplied for use from February 2004. We compared the incidence of syringe swaps during the period from February 2004 to January 2005 with that from February 2003 to January 2004. RESULTS: Although five syringe swaps were recorded from February 2003 to January 2004, in 5901 procedures, we encountered no syringe swaps from February 2004 to January 2005, in 6078 procedures. The colored syringe and colored sheet significantly decreased the incidence of syringe swaps during anesthetic management (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the sheet together with colored syringes can prevent syringe swaps during anesthesia.

Anesthesiology↗

PubMed2002

Effects of increasing syringe availability on syringe-exchange use and HIV risk: Connecticut, 1990-2001.

Syringe-exchange programs (SEPs) in Connecticut operate with caps on the number of syringes exchanged per visit. We investigated the effects of legislation increasing the cap on drug injectors' access to clean syringes through the SEPs in New Haven and Hartford. The mixed design of this study included longitudinal and cross-sectional data from individuals and ecological data from program operations. Five parameters-syringe return rate, syringes per visit to the SEP, syringe reuse rate, syringe human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence, and syringe sharing-were monitored through syringe tracking and testing of SEP syringes and by interviewing injectors. Two increases in the cap-from 5 to 10 and then from 10 to 30-had little effect on the five parameters that measured injectors' access to clean syringes. In contrast, access to clean syringes increased when the New Haven SEP first began operations, when syringes first became available at pharmacies in Hartford, and when the agency running the Hartford SEP changed. Legislation providing piecemeal increases in the cap may not, by themselves, be sufficient to increase injectors' access to clean syringes and decrease the risk of human immunodeficiency virus transmission in this population.

Connecticut↗

PubMedDate not supplied

State syringe and drug possession laws potentially influencing safe syringe disposal by injection drug users.

OBJECTIVE: To review state laws and judicial decisions for potential barriers to proper syringe disposal by injection drug users (IDUs). DESIGN: Using standard legal research methods, this study reviewed drug paraphernalia, syringe prescription, drug possession, and syringe exchange laws and relevant case decisions in 59 jurisdictions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Drug paraphernalia, syringe prescription, and drug possession laws. RESULTS: Drug paraphernalia laws prohibit all possession of syringes by IDUs in 31 jurisdictions. Syringe prescription laws prohibit possession in 7 jurisdictions. In 53 jurisdictions, IDUs may be subject to prosecution for the possession of drug residue in used syringes. Only two states (HI, RI) have no legal barriers to safe syringe disposal by IDUs. Sixteen jurisdictions that have tried to expand syringe access for IDUs by authorizing SEPs or by deregulating pharmacy sale of syringes continue to have criminal law provisions that could pose barriers to proper disposal. CONCLUSION: IDUs are a significant source of syringes disposed of outside the health care system. Involving IDUs in safe community sharps disposal programs is an important public health goal, but may be frustrated by legal barriers. Although this study looked only at law on the books, and not law as actually applied, ethnographic and survey research indicates that criminal laws do influence the syringe possession behavior of IDUs. The findings of this study suggest that syringe and drug possession laws could deter IDUs from participating in safe syringe disposal programs.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

Aberrant halt of syringe pump motion: an improved system to prevent false setting of the syringe.

A syringe pump is used to inject precise doses of drugs having a strong action; for example, vasoactive drugs. Unexpected and undetected halt of a syringe pump can lead to potentially life-threatening complications. We experienced a sudden halt in the movement of a syringe pump (Terufusion syringe pump; Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) in two patients while administering norepinephrine in the intensive care unit (ICU). Fortunately, the patients had only transient hypotension, which was immediately detected and promptly treated, without any untoward sequelae. As a result of the occurrence of such cases, we conducted a detailed investigation of the causes of this sudden halt in the syringe pump. We could not reproduce the aberration of the syringe pump and thus could not specify the cause in the first patient. In the second patient, however, a false setting on the syringe was suspected to be the cause of the problem. In order to prove this, we tried to reproduce the situation where a syringe pump, due to a false syringe setting, abruptly terminated while giving a "syringe loss" warning, after a period of precise functioning. Once we had determined how a false setting of the syringe could occur without the syringe pump giving off an alarm from the onset, we collaborated with the Terumo Company to revise their current instruction manual to incorporate this as a warning. We also helped in the development of a new model, including a new safety feature that would prevent a false setting of the syringe from occurring at all. This new model was released in December 2003.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗

PubMed2006

Physician control of needle and syringe during aspiration-injection procedures with the new reciprocating syringe.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate physician control of needle and syringe during aspiration-injection syringe procedures by comparing the new reciprocating procedure syringe to a traditional conventional syringe. METHODS: Twenty-six physicians were tested for their individual ability to control the reciprocating and conventional syringes in typical aspiration-injection procedures using a novel quantitative needle-based displacement procedure model. Subsequently, the physicians performed 48 clinical aspiration-injection (arthrocentesis) procedures on 32 subjects randomized to the reciprocating or conventional syringes. Clinical outcomes included procedure time, patient pain, and operator satisfaction. Multivariate modeling methods were used to determine the experimental variables in the syringe control model most predictive of clinical outcome measures. RESULTS: In the model system, the reciprocating syringe significantly improved physician control of the syringe and needle, with a 66% reduction in unintended forward penetration (p < 0.001) and a 68% reduction in unintended retraction (p < 0.001). In clinical arthrocentesis, improvements were also noted: 30% reduction in procedure time (p < 0.03), 57% reduction in patient pain (p < 0.001), and a 79% increase in physician satisfaction (p < 0.001). The variables in the experimental system--unintended forward penetration, unintended retraction, and operator satisfaction--independently predicted the outcomes of procedure time, patient pain, and physician satisfaction in the clinical study (p < or = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The reciprocating syringe reduces procedure time and patient pain and improves operator satisfaction with the procedure syringe. The reciprocating syringe improves physician performance in both the validated quantitative needle-based displacement model and in real aspiration-injection syringe procedures, including arthrocentesis.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Warming of infusion syringes caused by electronic syringe pumps.

PURPOSE: To evaluate inadvertent warming of the infusion syringe in four different types of electronic syringe pumps. METHODS: Ambient temperature and syringe surface temperature were simultaneously measured by two electronic temperature probes in four different models of commercially available syringe pumps. Experiments were performed at an infusion rate of 1 ml h(-1) using both battery-operated and main power-operated pumps. Measurements were repeated four times with two pumps from each of the four syringe pump types at a room temperature of approximately 23 degrees C. Differences among the four syringe pump brands regarding ambient to syringe temperature gradient were compared using ANOVA. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Syringe warming differed significantly between the four syringe brands for both the battery-operated and main power-operated mode (ANOVA, P< 0.001 for both modes). Individual differences between syringe surface and ambient temperature ranged from 0.3 to 1.9 degrees C for battery operation and from 0.5 to 11.2 degrees C during main-power operation. CONCLUSION: Infusion solutions can be significantly warmed by syringe pumps. This has potential impact on bacterial growth and the stability of drug solutions and blood products infused, as well as on the susceptibility to hydrostatic pressure changes within the infusion syringe.

Hot Temperature↗

PubMed2006

A longitudinal study of syringe acquisition by Puerto Rican injection drug users in New York and Puerto Rico: implications for syringe exchange and distribution programs.

Increasing access to sterile syringes and new drug preparation materials is an effective means of reducing HIV transmission among injection drug users (IDUs), and a fundamental component of harm reduction ideology. The purpose of this study is to examine changes during a three-year period in syringe acquisition by street-recruited Puerto Rican IDUs characterized by frequent drug injection and high HIV seroprevalence. At baseline (1998-1999) and 36-month follow-up, 103 IDUs recruited in East Harlem, New York (NY), and 135 from Bayamón, Puerto Rico (PR) were surveyed about syringe sources and HIV risk behaviors in the prior 30 days. A majority of participants in both sites were male (NY 78.6%, PR 84.4%), were born in Puerto Rico (NY 59.2%, PR 87.4%), and had not completed high school (NY 56.3%, PR 51.9%). Compared to PR IDUs at follow-up, NY IDUs injected less (3.4 vs. 7.0 times/day, p < .001), and re-used syringes less (3.1 vs. 8.0 times, p < .001). Between baseline and follow-up, in NY the proportion of syringes from syringe exchange programs (SEPs) increased from 54.2% to 72.9% (p = .001); syringes from pharmacies did not increase significantly (0.2% to 2.5%, p = .095). In PR, the proportions of syringes from major sources did not change significantly: private sellers (50.9% to 50.9%, p = .996); pharmacies (18.6% to 19.0%, p = .867); SEP (12.8% to 14.4%, p = .585). The study indicates that NY SEPs became more dominant, while NY pharmacies remained a minor source even though a law enacted in 2001 legalized syringe purchases without prescription. Private sellers in PR remained the dominant and most expensive source. The only source of free syringes, the SEP, permitted more syringes to be exchanged but the increase was not statistically significant. Implications for syringe exchange and distribution programs are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Syringe use and reuse: effects of syringe exchange programs in four cities.

We determined the effect of syringe exchange programs (SEPs) on syringe reuse patterns. Five methods were employed to estimate injections per syringe made by exchange clients in four cities. In San Francisco, Chicago, and Baltimore, self-reported data on the number of injections per syringe were obtained. In New Haven, self-reported injection frequencies were combined with syringe tracking data to derive two methods for estimating the mean injections per syringe. The average number of injections per syringe declined by at least half after establishment of SEPs in New Haven, Baltimore, and Chicago, all cities where such an analysis could be made. There were significant increases in the percentages of exchangers reporting once-only use of their syringes in San Francisco, Baltimore, and Chicago, all cities where the data were amenable to this form of analysis. Self-report and syringe tracking estimates were in agreement that SEP participation was associated with decreases in syringe reuse by drug injectors. SEP participation was associated with increases in the once-only use of syringes. These findings add to earlier studies supporting the role of SEPs in reducing the transmission of syringe-borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis.

Baltimore↗

PubMed1995

Impact of increased legal access to needles and syringes on community pharmacies' needle and syringe sales--Connecticut, 1992-1993.

In May 1992, the Connecticut legislature passed new laws aimed at increasing injecting drug users' (IDUs) access to sterile needles and syringes (syringes); as of July 1992, pharmacists were permitted to sell and individuals were permitted to possess up to 10 syringes without medical prescriptions (nonprescription syringes). We evaluated the impact of the new laws by conducting (1) prospective surveillance of syringe sales and policies at selected community pharmacies (pharmacies) and (2) a telephone survey of pharmacy managers' reports of syringe sales and policies at a statewide stratified random sample of pharmacies. Our data provide direct evidence that most, but not all, Connecticut pharmacies sold nonprescription syringes when permitted to do so by the new laws. For example, using the telephone survey data, we estimate that during November, 1993, 83% [95% CI: 77-89%] of all Connecticut pharmacies sold nonprescription syringes and 56,000 [95% CI: 44,000-68,000] nonprescription syringes were sold, during November 1993. Our data provide indirect evidence that IDUs were purchasing nonprescription syringes at pharmacies. For example, in five Hartford pharmacies located in neighborhoods where injection drug use was prevalent, the total number of nonprescription syringes sold per month increased significantly from 460 in July 1992 to 2,482 in June 1993 (p = 0.0001). The data suggest that the new laws increased IDUs' access to sterile syringes in Connecticut.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗

PubMed1994

[Fluctuation of injection pressure of syringe pumps; the effect of syringe volumes and speed settings].

We measured fluctuation of injection pressure by several types of commercially available syringe pumps in order to investigate the effect of syringe volumes (Terumo syringe) and speed settings on the irregularity of injection speeds. We recorded the injection pressure continuously with various speed settings, except that one of the pumps injected irregularly at the settings of 2 and 1 ml.h-1. With 50 ml syringes, only two of the six pumps injected precisely at all the speed settings. With the other four types, a steep increase in pressure was recorded at the speed setting of 1 ml.h-1. However irregular infusion was never observed by using a syringe of a high resistant type (TOP syringe). With 30 ml syringes, injection pressures fluctuated in most of the six syringe pumps at a speed lower than 5 ml.h-1. In conclusion, changes in injection pressures depend on types of syringes, syringe volumes and speed settings. We urge not to use a 30 ml syringe to infuse vasoactive drugs with syringe pumps.

Infusion Pumps↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacy access to sterile syringes for injection drug users: attitudes of participants in a syringe exchange program.

OBJECTIVE: To examine attitudes of participants of a van-based syringe exchange program (SEP) toward the hypothetical prospect of pharmacy-based syringe access. DESIGN: One-time, cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Baltimore, Maryland. PARTICIPANTS: 206 injection drug users who participate in the Baltimore SEP. INTERVENTIONS: Face-to-face interviews. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Location preferred for obtaining syringes, drug and syringe use, past experience with pharmacies, and willingness to pay. RESULTS: The sample was 67% men, 95% African American, and 95% unemployed; mean age was 39.8 years. A total of 19% of respondents had bought syringes at a pharmacy during the prior six months. Some 37% reported having been turned down when asking for syringes at a pharmacy, most commonly due to lack of identification to prove diabetic status (50%). If legal restrictions were lifted, 92% of respondents would obtain syringes from pharmacies, and would be willing to pay a mean price of $0.80 (median = $1.00) per syringe. Women were more likely than men to report the intention to switch from van-based SEP to pharmacy (57% versus 38%, p = .045). CONCLUSION: If current legal restrictions were lifted, pharmacies would be a viable syringe source appealing particularly to women, suggesting gender-specific access issues that should be addressed. The per-syringe price that study participants would be willing to pay exceeds typical retail prices, suggesting that pharmacists could charge enough per syringe to recoup operational costs.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

A sterile syringe for every drug user injection: how many injections take place annually, and how might pharmacists contribute to syringe distribution?

Our objectives were to estimate the annual number of injections by injection drug users (IDUs) in the United States of America, and to describe the potential role of pharmacists in providing IDUs with a sterile syringe for every injection. We estimated the number of annual injections by IDUs for the United States, selected U.S. states, and selected U.S. cities according to the following formula: number of injections per year = (number of IDUs) x (average number of injections per IDU per day) x 365. Data were obtained from published articles, personal communications with local experts, and selected national databases. We also reviewed published and unpublished studies of pharmacy kits, pharmacist attitudes, and pharmacist practices in the United States and abroad. Between 920 million and 1.7 billion injections by IDUs take place each year in the United States. We estimated 12 million injections per year in San Francisco and >80 million in New York City. A similar number of syringes would be needed to satisfy the goal of a sterile syringe for every injection. Pharmacy-based strategies, including the sale of kits for injection drug use, have provided sterile syringes to IDUs in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Modification of laws restricting syringe purchase and possession has led to marked increases in purchase of syringes from pharmacies and reductions in needle-sharing. In conclusion, large numbers of syringes would be required to provide a sterile syringe for every injection, but significant numbers of pharmacists seem to be willing to play a central role in syringe sale and distribution. Outreach programs should emphasize that using a sterile syringe for every injection is the optimal HIV prevention practice for IDUs who cannot or will not stop injecting. Pharmacy-based syringe sale or distribution has the potential to augment current efforts to prevent HIV infection in IDUs, their sex partners, and their children.

Australia↗

PubMed2004

Injection risk behaviors among clients of syringe exchange programs with different syringe dispensation policies.

While there have been numerous papers published in the medical, social, and epidemiologic literature about the effectiveness of syringe exchange programs (SEPs), few papers identify operational characteristics of the SEPs they study or assess which of those characteristics are associated with optimal HIV risk reduction among clients. The objective of this study was to examine whether different syringe dispensation policies were associated with client-level injection-related HIV risk. Injection drug users (IDUs) were recruited at 23 SEPs in California in 2001 (n = 531). SEPs were classified by their executive directors as to whether they provided a strict one-for-one syringe exchange, gave a few extra syringes above the one-for-one exchange, or distributed the amount of syringes based upon need as opposed to how many syringes were turned in by the clients. Injection-related risk was compared by SEP program type. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, clients of distribution-based programs had lower odds of reusing syringes (adjusted odds ratio = 0.43; 95% CI = 0.27, 0.71) when adjusting for confounding variables. There were no statistical differences with regards to distributive or receptive syringe sharing by dispensation policy. It is concluded that SEPs that base syringe dispensation policy upon need may facilitate reductions in reuse of syringes.

California↗

PubMed2006

Use of a large bore syringe creates significantly fewer high intensity transient signals (HITS) into a cardiopulmonary bypass system than a small bore syringe.

INTRODUCTION: High intensity transient signals (HITS) have been reported to occur following perfusionist intervention during cardiac surgery. This study investigates the relationship of the syringe bore, injection rate, and HITS created. METHODS: Syringes (10 mL) with a male luer-lock connection (Large Bore) and Abboject 'jet syringes' with a 20 GA needle and male luer-lock connector (Small Bore) were filled with 10 mL of 0.9 N saline. A perfusionist was randomly assigned a set of four similar syringes followed by the other syringe bore. Each of the four syringes was injected into an in vitro saline-primed cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) system over 5, 10, 15, or 20 sec. Sixteen randomizations of small and large bore syringes were completed at the four injection times (128 injections). HITS in the CPB arterial line were detected with transcranial Doppler (TCD) probes, were recorded for the 2 min following the injection, and were counted independently off-line by two reviewers. RESULTS: The use of a large bore syringe compared to a small bore syringe created significantly fewer HITS (29 +/- 6 versus 145 +/- 17 [mean +/- SEM], p<0.001) introduced into the CPB arterial line. Injection over a longer time produced significantly fewer HITS than shorter injection times (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Significantly fewer HITS are introduced into the CPB system by using standard syringes and slower injection time.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗