Syringe Drivers are small portable (usually battery operated) devices used in palliative care. A single drug, or more often a combination of drugs is given via a slow subcutaneous infusion to help control symptoms when other routes of administration are no longer viable, feasible or preferred.
As Australia is in the process of changing from the Graseby model devices, much of the current information is no longer valid as many teaching resources have been based on the these. As new resources become available they will be included here.
Caution must be taken when looking at any overseas information as other drugs, dosages and devices are used.
Resources
Related CareSearch Pages
Nurses Hub
Working with Families
GP Pages
Syringe drivers
Free Full Text Article
Reymond L, Charles MA, Bowman J, Treston P. The effect of dexamethasone on the longevity of syringe driver subcutaneous sites in palliative care patients. Med J Aust. 2003 May 19;178(10):486-9.
References
- Stuart P, Lee J, Arnold G, Davis M. A centralized storage system for the delivery of subcutaneous infusions. Br J Nurs. 2008 Apr 24-May 7;17(8):512-6.
- Wilcock A, Jacob JK, Charlesworth S, Harris E, Gibbs M, Allsop H. Drugs given by a syringe driver: a prospective multicentre survey of palliative care services in the UK. Palliat Med. 2006 Oct;20(7):661-4.
- Abbas SQ, Yeldham M, Bell S. The use of metal or plastic needles in continuous subcutaneous infusion in a hospice setting. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2005 Mar-Apr;22(2):134-8.
- Morgan S, Evans N. A small observational study of the longevity of syringe driver sites in palliative care. Int J Palliat Nurs. 2004 Aug;10(8):405-12.
- McNeilly P, Price J, McCloskey S. The use of syringe drivers: a paediatric perspective. Int J Palliat Nurs. 2004 Aug;10(8):399-404.
- Mitten T. Subcutaneous drug infusions: a review of problems and solutions. Int J Palliat Nurs. 2001 Feb;7(2):75-85.
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This page was created on 27 August 2010
Last updated 27 August 2010*