Accuracy of Gravity-Based Automatic Infusion System for Chemoport Intravenous Infusion.

BACKGROUND

An infusion pump designed to deliver a specific volume at a predetermined rate is unable to detect extravasation and may continue infusion despite increased tissue resistance caused by extravasation. Consequently, it is recommended that vesicant drugs, such as chemotherapeutic agents, be administered via gravity infusion to reduce the risk of tissue damage. However, intravenous flow regulators used for gravity infusion have limitations because the infusion rate is influenced by the height, venous pressure, and viscosity of the fluid, which can change with temperature. In this study, we measured the accuracy of Accudrip, a new gravity-based automatic infusion control device designed to correct fluctuating infusion rates.

METHODS

In 59 cancer patients administered with anticancer drugs, the actual administration rate using Accudrip under various administration conditions and the theoretical administration rate were measured and analyzed 100 times.

RESULTS

Comparing the theoretical and actual administration rates using Accudrip confirmed that it can be injected with an average error rate of 4.75%, which clinically demonstrated sufficient accuracy for fluid administration.

CONCLUSION

The gravity-based automatic infusion system showed high accuracy consistent with the theoretical rate of administration even under multiple infusion conditions of cancer patients with chemoport. This system (Accudrip) will greatly contribute to accurate drug administration and minimization of adverse events in real-world hospital settings.