Infusion therapy

Strides made in the past several decades have greatly enhanced patients' quality of life particularly that of cancer patients, who often have to receive continuous infusion therapy. Research efforts that resulted in the development and use of the long-line central indwelling silicone elastomeric catheter, new methods for problem management, and the design and use of portable infusion pumps for administration of investigational and other chemotherapeutic agents have made it possible to deliver safe care to these patients on an ambulatory basis. These new programs made it imperative that patients who received such care would have audio, not just verbal and written information to assist them in carrying out procedures for these programs. Patient education programs, and particularly the ones at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have produced many teaching and information aids. These programs are a credit to the pioneering spirit and trust of patients who came to M. D. Anderson in those early days. I can remember well when all of us were trying and working together on these programs. This spirit continues today.