Overdose of opioid from patient-controlled analgesia pumps.
Two incidence have occurred in our hospital when a patient-controlled analgesia pump has accidentally delivered the whole contents of the syringe of diamorphine (60 mg) over a period of approximately 1 h. Electrical corruption of the pumps' program has been identified as the probable cause. All pumps of this type have been modified to prevent such occurrences.
Notcutt
W G
WG
Department of Anaesthesia, James Paget Hospital, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
Knowles
P
P
Kaldas
R
R
D000368:Aged; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced
D003932:Heroin