Pressure Dynamics of Various Irrigation Techniques Commonly Used in the Emergency Department

See related article, "Wound Irrigation." Study objective: To evaluate the pressure dynamics of common irrigation techniques used in the treatment of traumatic wounds. Design: Matched experimental trial. Participants: Ten male volunteers. Interventions: Pressure curves were obtained while performing manual irrigation with 250-mL boluses of normal saline with 19-gauge needles on 35-mL syringes, 19-gauge needles on 65-mL syringes, IV bags pierced with 19-gauge needles, and plastic bottles pierced with 19-gauge needles. Measurements also were obtained using an IV bag with tubing attached to either a 19-gauge or 16-gauge needle within a pressure cuff inflated to 400 mm Hg. Results: Median peak pressures were 35 lb/in.² (psi) (range, 25 to 40 psi) and 27.5 psi (range, 15 to 40 psi) using a 35-mL syringe and a 65-mL syringe, respectively. Median peak pressures with the IV bag and plastic bottle were 4 psi (range, 2 to 5.5 psi) and 2.3 psi (range, 1.2 to 4.5 psi), respectively. The IV bag in a pressure cuff generated pressures of 6 to 10 psi and 4 to 6 psi using 19-gauge and 16-gauge needles, respectively. Conclusion: Both 35-mL and 65-mL syringes with a 19-gauge needle are effective in performing high-pressure irrigation in the range of 25 to 35 psi. The use of IV bags and plastic bottles should be discouraged when high-pressure irrigation is required. [Singer AJ, Hollander JE, Subramanian S, Malhatra AK, Villez PA: Pressure dynamics of various irrigation techniques commonly used in the emergency department. Ann Emerg Med July 1994;24:36-40.]