Pressurization of i.v. bags: a new configuration and evaluation for use.

External pressure devices are often utilized to increase the flow rates of IV fluids in exsanguinating patients. However, increasing the flow rate by this method also increases the rate at which IV bags need changing. Time is lost and valuable personnel are preoccupied in maintaining the numerous hand-pumped external pressure devices and IV bags. A systematic evaluation comparing the hand-pumped device with a new, pneumatic external pressure device (Infusor-1, Medical Innovations, Inc., Phoenix, AZ) is presented. A new multiunit configuration (Infusor-Rack) for the pneumatic device is also described. We found a significant decrease in IV bag take-down/setup time with the new pneumatic pressure device. This system is faster, more reliable, and easier to use than the standard hand-pumped pressure bag and should be viewed as a practical improvement in the fluid delivery system.