Change of Infusor by Caregiver by Yishun Health

Change of Infusor by Caregiver

What is an infusor?

It is a device that is filled with the medication prescribed by your doctor to be given through your veins.

The infusion system is used to deliver your medication continuously over one or two days.

As the infusion system slowly pushes the medication through your vein, the elastomeric balloon deflates.

Why do I need an infusor?

Your doctor will recommend the use of an infusor when you need a continuous administration of medication such as antibiotics.

Discharge

and medication

On the day of your discharge, your caregiver will demonstrate the change of infusor under the direct supervision of a nurse. Once your caregiver is able to perform the infusor change correctly, the nurse will issue the infusors along with a collection schedule for you to bring home.

Transportation and storage of medication

Your medication must be kept between 2°C to 8 °C. Therefore, the medication must be brought back in a cooler bag with two ice packs.

1. Fill Port and Sterility Protector Cap protect the Infusor or Intermate System

2. Tubing carries the medication from the device into your catheter/port

3. Flow Restrictor (Infusor Only) controls the infusion rate of the medication (Glass)

4. Distal End Luer Lock attaches the Infusor or Intermate System to your catheter

5. Open/Close Clamp stops medication flow when pushed to the closed position; allows medication flow when in the open position. This may not be present on Infusor devices

6. Winged Luer Cap protects the opening and stops the flow of medication until it is removed. The Winged Luer Cap is not present when the device is connected to your catheter

7. Elastomeric Reservoir holds the medication and pushes it through the tubing

8. Infusion Progress Lines show the progress of the infusion (lines may be horizontal or vertical on the plastic housing) Source: Baxter

Step 1: Preparing the work space

1. Take the infusor out of the fridge one hour before

2. Check the infusor for:

 Patient’s name and NRIC

 Name and dosage of the drug

 Expiry date

 Any crack on the infusor or leakage of the balloon

 Discolouration of the solution or any floating matter

3. Clean the work surface

4. Perform hand hygiene

5. Prepare necessary items

 Infusor

 Alcohol swabs

 Prefilled saline syringe 10ml

 Gauze

 Micropore tape

Step 2: Disconnect existing infusor

1. Perform hand hygiene

3. Close PICC clamp

2. Observe the volume remaining

4. Swab connection between infusor and PICC connector

5. Disconnect infusor from PICC. Remove personal details before discarding used infusor

6. Swab PICC connector with 2 alcohol swabs for at least 30 seconds (15 seconds per swab)

7. Allow site to dry completely

Step 3: Prepare pre-filled syringe

1. Push the syringe plunger to break the seal

2. Remove the cap without touching the tip of the syringe, hold syringe with tip facing upward, tap side for bubbles to rise

3. Push the plunger until the air is expelled

Step 4: Check the patency of PICC line

1. Attach the pre-filled syringe to PICC connector

3. Withdraw the syringe gently until blood is seen along the PICC line

1 2 3 5 4

2. Open the clamp on the PICC line

4. Use the “Push and Pause” method to push 10mls of saline

5. Close the clamp on the PICC line and discard the syringe. DO NOT push the saline if there is resistance. Remove the syringe and call the OPAT Nurse immediately

Step 5: Connect the new infusor

1. Swab the winged luer cap of the infusor. Without touching the tip, remove the Winged Luer Cap from the infusor

3. Connect the infusor to the PICC connector by turning in a clockwise direction to secure it

2. Observe for a drop of medication. This shows that the device is working

4. Open the clamp of the PICC line

5. Wrap the connectors with a piece of gauze. Secure the infusor tubing with micropore tape. Ensure no kinks along the tubing.

Collection of Medication

Before coming to the hospital

Place two frozen ice pack in the cooler bag

At the clinic

Check the details on the medication label for:

 Correct name & NRIC number

 Name and dose of medication

 Expiry date

 Place infusors into the cooler bag

 Go straight home after collecting your medication

 Keep cooler bag closed during transportation

During office hours on weekdays 8:00am – 5:00pm

After office hours/weekends/ public holiday

At home

 Transfer to the refrigerator immediately after reaching home

6602 3543

Proceed to Emergency Department

This material has been adapted and reproduced with permission from Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Yishun Health is a network of medical institutions and health facilities of the National Healthcare Group in the north of Singapore. It comprises Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Yishun Community Hospital and community extensions such as Admiralty Medical Centre and Wellness Kampung. Khoo Teck Puat Hospital • (65) 6555 8000 • www.ktph.com.sg Yishun Community Hospital • (65) 6807 8800 • www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg