Our new hospital policy is to only use syringe pumps for inotropes, pressors, and all vasoactives (and their drivers)
So due to findings that the way in which most large volume pumps work often giving ‘micro-boluses’ and overall inaccurate delivery of vasoactives, much more air found in the lines even with priming to perfection etc. our new policy is syringe pumps only for these meds and their runner/driver syringes. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous at first— only because I thought we’d be changing syringes far more often. But even with our 250 lb. male patients our mixed syringes give us at least 24h before the need to “double pump” with a new manifold and driver etc.. and we have set standard concentrations in our manual for different weights and indications. I am in love with this new policy and safety measure in place!!! I have had far less incidents since earlier this year when we hung our vasoactives, as well as since my previous hospital with the Alaris large volume pumps… we’ve even started using syringe pumps for our ART lines in patients under 60 kg. If anyone else’s hospital policy changes in the future, don’t be alarmed— it is much less stressful (and noisy with all those false alarms) now than it was before !!
So due to findings that the way in which most large volume pumps work often giving ‘micro-boluses’ and overall inaccurate delivery of vasoactives, much more air found in the lines even with priming to perfection etc. our new policy is syringe pumps only for these meds and their runner/driver syringes. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous at first— only because I thought we’d be changing syringes far more often. But even with our 250 lb. male patients our mixed syringes give us at least 24h before the need to “double pump” with a new manifold and driver etc.. and we have set standard concentrations in our manual for different weights and indications. I am in love with this new policy and safety measure in place!!! I have had far less incidents since earlier this year when we hung our vasoactives, as well as since my previous hospital with the Alaris large volume pumps… we’ve even started using syringe pumps for our ART lines in patients under 60 kg. If anyone else’s hospital policy changes in the future, don’t be alarmed— it is much less stressful (and noisy with all those false alarms) now than it was before !!