By April 2012, clinicians in the NHS will be required to use new neuraxial connectors for spinal needles and by 2013 epidural and other regional applications as part of an initiative to prevent misconnection between standard vascular Luer connectors and neuraxial or other regional injections.
The Assocation of Anaesthetists of Great Britain & Ireland (AAGBI) support the process of replacing the Luer connector for spinal, epidural and other regional anaesthesia applications, however, it believes that a single dedicated new connector is needed, to maximise efficiency and safety. There are currently around 12 new, clinically untested, CE marked non-Luer connectors being introduced to the NHS. In England and Scotland centralised testing of new connectors prior to introduction has not been possible. However, a full process of evaluation is planned in Wales organised by the Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory. Some hospitals have already started to clinically test new connectors in response to the deadline set by the NPSA. However, AAGBI believes that any testing of this type should be organised and rigorous in design
