A Quick Guide To Medical Pumps

Medical pumps play a vital role in healthcare. Delivering medications, fluids, and nutrients to patients is critical for treatment. These devices are highly reliable, hence their use in medical facilities worldwide.

The Journal of Nursing Care Quality notes in a study how much intensive care units benefitted from smart pump technology. Across the board, units had a 100% drug library compliance and decreases of 3.39% for alert rates and 0.3% for pump programming correction rates. Most importantly, these findings prove how dependable these smart medical pumps can be.

Although volumetric pumps have various uses, this guide will focus on their medical benefits. Continue reading here for more information on these life-saving devices:

1. Infusion Pumps

Infusion pumps deliver fluids, medications, and nutrients to patients. Medical staff can program these pumps to provide a specific amount of medicine. Furthermore, they have a steady supply at a predetermined rate over time.

Uses for infusion pumps, like those available from KNF and other pump suppliers, include:

• Administering chemotherapy drugs
• Infusing antibiotics
• Supplying pain medications
• Direct delivery of other medications

Using these pumps in a hospital or clinic setting gives the medical staff more time for essential tasks like urgent patient care. Moreover, the device alarm will notify the team in case of problems or empty fluid bags. It thus makes drip management more efficient.

2. Syringe Pumps

Syringe pumps are small and battery-powered pumps. Patients receive medication at a constant rate over 24 hours. They are often used during palliative care or in intensive care units for their convenience. Moreover, neonatal or pediatric patients may need smaller doses of medications.

Using a syringe pump helps medical staff in managing the following:

• Patients who are suffering from nausea or vomiting
• Patients with difficulty swallowing oral medicine like tablets
• Patients who avoid regular injections for chronic medications
• Oral medications that seem less effective at controlling symptoms
• Lowered absorption of the gut that prevents optimal results

These handy pumps assist patients needing specialized care for their medical needs. While being convenient for medical staff, patients also feel more autonomous.

3. Enteral Feeding Pumps

Enteral feeding pumps deliver liquid nutrition to a patient’s stomach or small intestine. Like others, these pumps are also programmable to provide the exact amount of nutrients to the patient. They can thus focus on their recovery without worrying about their nutrition.

Some of the most common uses for these pumps are:

• Cancer patients who have lost their appetite due to medications
• Stroke patients who can’t feed themselves due to muscle weakness
• Those with severe gastrointestinal problems that require a feeding pump

Nutrients supply the body with the building blocks for healing. Therefore, it makes nutrition essential for living and recovery. Consequently, patients who can’t consume food in the usual way will benefit from these feeding pumps giving them their much-needed supply.

4. Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) Pumps

PCA pumps allow patients to control their pain medication. The patient presses a button on the pump to deliver a predetermined dose when needed. An intravenous line connected to the pump provides the treatment in small quantities. Furthermore, it is more convenient for patients than calling a nurse.

Below are some instances where PCA pumps are most valuable:

• Directly after major surgery, like open-heart procedures.
• Chronic pain conditions, like severe inflammatory illnesses.
• Incurable diseases, like cancer.

The metabolic rate for each patient differs from the next. It may cause some to feel pain more rapidly than others. Having a custom option for their pain relief allows them to be pain-free as the need arises.

5. Insulin Pumps

Insulin pumps for diabetes deliver insulin into the patient’s body. The pump design mimics the natural release of insulin from the pancreas. Patients program the pump to provide different amounts of insulin daily.

Additionally, diabetic patients prefer this method as it provides consistent insulin delivery. Rather than injections, which could be cumbersome for patients to administer themselves. Here are more uses for insulin pumps:

• Patients who experience altered food absorption in their gut
• Patients who need to change their dose while keeping the delivery accurate
• Patients who want to start or pause their treatments after or during exercise
• Patients with severe low blood sugar reactions
• Pregnant women who wish to regulate their blood sugar more effectively

The automated use of these pumps helps to manage diabetes for many patients. Fortunately, the technology is readily available worldwide, making it more accessible to diabetics. In addition, the various models come at different rates for most patients to afford.

To Conclude

Medical pumps play a vital role in patients’ healthcare. Delivering medications, fluids, and nutrients could be critical for some. There are different types of medical pumps, each with a specific purpose. Understanding the different types of medical pumps helps professionals to provide a higher standard of care. Not to mention the convenience it offers patients.