Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 21, 2025

A Protocol to Set Up Needle-Free Connector with Positive Displacement on Central Venous Catheter in Intensive Care Unit
Published on: July 13, 2019
Handling errors in conventional and smart pump infusions: A systematic review with meta-analysis.
Ana Paula Amorim Moreira1, Márglory Fraga de Carvalho2, Roberto Carlos Lyra da Silva3
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem e Biociências, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Smart pumps significantly reduce medication errors in intensive care units compared to conventional infusion pumps. This systematic review found smart pump technology lowers the risk of programming errors in intravenous insulin therapy.
Area of Science:
- Medical technology
- Patient safety
- Clinical pharmacy
Background:
- Intravenous insulin therapy is critical in intensive care units.
- Conventional infusion pumps are associated with handling errors.
- Smart pump technology offers potential improvements in medication safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the evidence on handling error frequencies.
- To compare error rates between conventional and smart infusion pumps for insulin therapy.
- To assess the impact of smart pumps on reducing programming errors in critical care.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature.
- Searches conducted in major databases: Virtual Health Library, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science.
- Evidence level assessed using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Evidence Scale.
Main Results:
- Twelve publications met eligibility criteria.
- Conventional pump programming error rates ranged from 10% to 40.1%.
- Smart pump programming error rates ranged from 0.3% to 14%, with a 51% relative risk reduction in programming errors.
Conclusions:
- Smart pump technology significantly reduces the risk of programming errors in intravenous insulin therapy.
- Evidence supports the adoption of smart pumps to enhance patient safety in intensive care settings.
- Further research may explore long-term impacts and cost-effectiveness.
Related Concept Videos
Drug Accumulation During Multiple Dosing: Intermittent IV Infusions
Two-Compartment Open Model: IV Infusion
The model illustrates the decrease in plasma drug concentration from the central compartment with a specific equation. It shows that under steady-state conditions, the drug's input rate...
Determination of Multiple Dosing Parameters: Steady-State, Minimum and Maximum Concentrations
Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring
Several factors...
One-Compartment Model: IV Infusion
The one-compartment model for IV infusion uses mathematical equations to describe the rate of change in drug quantity in the body. At steady-state or infusion equilibrium, the drug input...
One-Compartment Open Model for IV Bolus Administration: General Considerations
The drug's presence in the body is defined by an equation representing the difference between the rates of drug entry and exit. Key parameters—elimination rate constant,...

