Infusion Pumps - Syringe - Basics
| Abbreviation / other names |
Syringe Pump |
| What does it do? |
It is used to pump fluids (drugs, liquid food, glucose, saline)
into the body. |
| How it works |
A plastic syringe containing fluid is placed into the syringe holder. A tube (or “giving set”) is connected to the patient’s vein by a needle, cannula or into the patient’s stomach via a tube. When the flow rate is set, the pump pushes the syringe plunger so that the fluid flows. The speed that the plunger is pushed depends on both the diameter of the syringe and the flow rate set. |
| When Syringe Infusion Pumps are in use, Flow Rate, Volume and Pressure of Fluid delivery are constantly measured and the operator alerted by alarms if an error exists in these and other parameters. Over or Under Infusion of certain drugs can be very hazardous to the patient. Plastic Syringes made by different manufacturers are not exactly the same. Syringe Pumps are labelled or programmed to specify which brand of Syringe to use. Significant errors in flow rate and volume delivered will be introduced if the wrong Syringe is used. Syringe Infusion Pumps do not allow the pressure of the liquid infused to go too high as damage to the vein will result. High pressures will result in an Occlusion Alarm. | |
| Units of measurement |
mL/h |
| Typical values |
0 – 250 mL/h |
| Picture of equipment |
|
 Grasbey PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) |
|