UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES
MEDICAL CENTER

PROCEDURE

PURPOSE: To safely provide continuous or bolus infusion of medication. Type of delivery system is determined by medication and/or chemotherapy ordered and pharmacy preparation.

Elastomeric devices are filled by pharmacy with the prescribed volume to be administered over the appropriate time.

1. Infusor or with ordered medication, prepared by pharmacy
2. Instruction sheet(s) for patient/family education PRN
3. Chemo waste container for patient to take home

PROCEDURE STEPS:

1. Wash hands and assemble supplies on clean, flat surface.
2. Remove infusor from the plastic bag and straighten the tubing.
3. Remove the wing cap from the end of the infusor tubing and wait for a bubble of fluid to run to the end of the tubing.
4. Clean catheter cap vigorously for 15 seconds with alcohol and/or povidone-iodine 10%.
5. Luer-lock into venous access.  If device is used for 24 hours or greater Luer-lock into catheter, not through needleless cap.
6. Place the infusor inside the sock and pin to inside clothing.
7. Provide patient/caregiver with infusion instruction sheet and supplies to change and discontinue infusor as an outpatient PRN.
8. Provide patient with 24 hour phone number to call for questions or problems
9. Follow pharmacy recommendation for storage of infusor at home.
10. After completing and discontinuing the infusion, flush the catheter with normal saline and heparin flush (100 USP units/ml) with the volume required for the type of venous access device used, as Procedure 112.

REFERENCES:
Travenol Infusion Chemotherapy, Patient Education Guide, Travenol Laboratories, 1996.

RESOURCE PERSON(S):   Mark Rowe, RNP, MNSc

 See Adobe Acrobat for teaching tools.