Background Intraspinal administration errors are identified in the list of ‘never events’ of the French Health Authority (ANSM). New devices with different connectors incompatible with standard Luer-lock connectors (Univia syringe, Becton-Dickinson) could be used to make the spinal administration of cytotoxic drugs safer. Purpose To perform a feasibility study regarding to the minimum capacity (2 mL).

Materials and methods A comparative study between Univia (U, 2 ml) and Tuberculin (T, BD) syringes was performed. Volumes of water (0.6mL, 0.48mL, 0.15mL, 0.1mL) simulating usual volumes of cytotoxics were measured by an operator and weighed on a precision scale (n = 30). For each volume, accuracy (%) and precision (CV%) were determined. A difference of 10% from the nominal volume was the chosen threshold.

Results For U, the accuracy was 0.2%, 6.5%, 11.2% and 21.8% for 0.6, 0.48, 0.15 and 0.1 mL, respectively. It was 1.2%, 2.0%, 6.1% and 6.1% for T. For U, the precision was 2.4%, 2.3%, 5.9% and 6.2% for 0.6, 0.48, 0.15 and 0.1 mL, respectively whereas it was 1%, 1.0%, 7.3% and 8% for T. Accordingly, the volumes of 0.6 and 0.48 mL may be prepared with U. For both, 0.15 and 0.1 mL, a transfer step with a tuberculin syringe increases both accuracy (3.9%) and precision (3.9%).

Conclusions This study suggests the possibility of using U to compound cytotoxic drugs for intraspinal injection. It remains to evaluate the practical constraints related to the administration.

No conflict of interest.