Infusion control device

Avoid continuous IV therapy Acute tolerance develops during continuous IV administration. High concentration/low volume (250 ml) vasopressor solutions administered with the aid of an infusion control device allows for maximum dosing flexibility because fluids and drugs can be regulated independently and the development of tolerance is minimized. 

An infusion control device (ICD) is a device that maintains a constant infusion rate in a gravity flow system (controller) or via a positive pressure pump. A positive pressure pump is a device that provides mechanical pressure (2-12 psi) to overcome the resistance to flow in the vessels. The types of positive pressure pumps are categorized according to how they deliver the solution and their degree of precision in the flow rate. Positive pressure pumps include peristaltic pumps, cassette pumps, syringe pumps, non-electiic or disposable pumps, and patient-controlled analgesic... 

A regular insulin drip must be administered by an infusion-controlled device (IV pump). It may not be given via gravity because it is a very dangerous medication and could kill the client if not administered correctly. 

Electronic infusion devices are classided as either infusion controllers or infusion pumps. The primary difference between die two is diat an infusion pump adds pressure to die infusion, whereas an infusion controller does not. An infusion pump may be used to deliver the desired number of drops per minute. An alarm is set to sound if the IV is more than or less dian the preset rate... 

One of the fundamental pharmacological treatments in this group of patients is the opioid continuous infusion with devices adapted to outpatient treatments as patient-controlled analgesia pump. 

Infusion devices have been used for diabetes, cancer chemotherapy, pain control (patient-controUed analgesia, ie, PGA), infection, Alzheimer s disease, Parkinson s, nausea, thalassemia, thromboembolism, and to treat severe spasms resulting from spiaal cord iajury (140—143). 

Controllers and pumps have detectors and alarms that alert the nurse to various problems, such as air in the line, an occlusion, low battery, completion of an infusion, or an inability to deliver the preset rate When any problem is detected by the device, an alarm is activated to alert the nurse Potential complications in IV dierapy are die same as diose widi peripheral line... 

When oxytocin is prescribed, the primary health care provider orders the type and amount of IV fluid, the number of units of oxytocin added to the IV solution, and the IV infusion rate An electronic infusion device is used to control the infusion rate. The primary health care provider establishes guidelines for the administration of the oxytocin solution and for increasing or decreasing the flow rate or discontinuing the administration of oxytocin based on standards established by the Association of Women s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). Usually, the flow rate is increased every 20 to 30 minutes, but this may vary according to the patient s response. The strength, frequency, and duration of contractions and the FHR are monitored closely. 

Fungal infection, empirical Administer 3 mg/kg/day of liposomal amphotericin B using a controlled infusion device over 120 minutes infusion time may be reduced to 60 minutes if well tolerated or increased if patient experiences discomfort. 

Controlled release can be achieved using infusion devices in hospital and chn-ical settings. Advances in miniaturization of these devices is beginning to provide portability. Ftowever, these devices are not ideal for most applications due to their cost and complex training requirements. 

Controlled-rate infusion devices, as well as feedback-regulated drug delivery devices, have the potential to improve drug safety and efficacy. With advancement in computer technology and miniaturization of precision motors, highly compact computer-controlled infusion pumps are now available for insulin delivery. These pumps, weighing about 3 to 4 ounces, can be... 

Source Adapted from Patient-controlled analgesic infusion pumps. Health Devices. 2001 30 168, 169,182 with permission. 

Transdermal delivery is a noninvasive intravenous infusion of drug to maintain efficacious drug levels in the body for predictable and extended duration of activity. Diffusion-controlled transdermal systems are designed to deliver the therapeutic agent at a controlled rate from the device to and through the skin into the systemic circulation. This route of administration avoids unwanted presystemic metabolism (first-pass effect) in the GI tract and the liver. Patient satisfaction has been realized through decreased... 

WANGETAL. Disposable Controlled-Release Device for Drug Infusion... 

Their pumping mechanism is the roller peristaltic action which is also used for flow control. But the power consumption is high and the battery in some of these pumps needs to be replaced practically every day (6). The clinical infusion devices aforementioned are much too expensive for research purposes in laboratory animals, which are used because their inbreeding helps to avoid variations in pharmacological action due to genetic factors. Thus, there is a need to devise a simple and low cost infusion pump that can readily be modified in size or flow rate to accommodate different research requirements. 

The steady flow rate observed in the heparin infusion study with the corresponding delay in clotting time indicates that the infusion device can provide dependable controlled release. Since the service life, size and flow rate of the device may be varied depending on the requirements of an experiment, these features should make it readily adaptable to the infusion of many other drugs. 

Sodium nitroprusside (sodium nitrosyl pentacyanoferrate dihydrate) is administered in hypertensive crisis by IV infusion, using a controlled infusion device. The drug is commercially available as reddish-brown lyophilized powder. Prior to infusion, it is reconstituted and diluted with 5% dextrose injection. 

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