Four Key Questions about Syringe Infusion Pumps

Syringe infusion pumps are used to administer highly concentrated drugs or antibiotics from a syringe (anywhere between 1 and 50 mL). By controlling the rate at which the syringe plunger advances, these pumps directly control the fluid flow rate (as opposed to large-volume pumps, which moderate gravity-driven flow). Therefore, the administration sets used with syringe pumps are simpler in design and less expensive than the proprietary sets sold with large-volume pumps, which interact with the pumping mechanism and provide set-based free-flow prevention.

In North America, syringe pumps are used primarily to treat neonatal and pediatric patients because of the pumps' highly accurate volume delivery and consistent flow for small volumes (≤60 mL). Additionally, some syringe pumps can be used for enteral feeding in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). (For more information on this application, see our review of neonatal enteral feeding pumps. ) Outside North America, syringe pumps are commonly used for all infusions, regardless of patient age or size.

As with large-volume pumps, hospitals seldom need to worry about how well the pumping mechanism works on a syringe pump. The basic mechanical performance of these devices meets clinical requirements and has changed very little in recent years (although there is one area of concern: low-flow continuity, which we discuss below). However, just because the basic mechanical performance of these pumps hasn't changed doesn't mean the technology itself hasn't evolved: Advances in computing...