title: Administration of drugs by infusion pumps in palliative medicine.
abstract: A retrospective study was carried out in 100 adult patients with advanced malignant disease. They were given subcutaneous continuous infusions of medication for symptom relief. The drugs were administered through a butterfly needle inserted subcutaneously in the anterior chest wall using a battery-operated infusion pump. The indications for using this technique were inability to swallow due to deteriorating general condition, oesophageal obstruction, intestinal obstruction, severe nausea and vomiting, terminal dyspnoea and poor pain control with oral opiates. All patients received morphine; other drugs administered through the syringe driver included hyoscine, metoclopramide, cyclizine, dexamethasone and midazolam. Ninety-four patients continued subcutaneous infusion until death. The mean duration of treatment was 9.1 days. The treatment was well tolerated by the patients and controlled their symptoms satisfactorily in the great majority. The use of continuous subcutaneous infusion via a syringe driver gives good symptom control. In the last days of life when the patients have difficulty tolerating oral medication, continuous subcutaneous infusion is a superior alternative to frequent intermittent parenteral injections.
authors.affiliation: Haven of Hope Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Thorsen
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Yung
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps / Q000009:adverse effects; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D009325:Nausea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology