Evaluation of a multiple-dose syringe pump system for intermittent i.v. drug delivery

The feasibility of implementing a multiple-dose, multiple-flow-rate syringe pump system in a large teaching institution and a community hospital is described. The new syringe pump system was evaluated on medical and surgical wards in each hospital for a period of time sufficient to evaluate 40 courses of therapy in each hospital. At the time the new syringe pump system was implemented, the teaching hospital was using a gravity-dependent bottle and burette system and the community hospital was using a single-dose syringe pump system. At the end of the study period, the material costs of the existing i.v. infusion systems were compared with the material costs of the new syringe pump system, and the nurses involved in the study were questioned about their attitudes toward the new system. Use of the multiple-dose syringe pump system resulted in a savings of $934.81 in material costs compared with the bottle and burette system and $9.70 in material costs compared with the single-dose syringe pump system (based on 40 doses). When the cost of wasted drug was considered, the cost per day of the multiple-dose syringe pump system was substantially less (70%) than the cost per day of the bottle and burette system and approximately the same as the cost per day for the single-dose syringe pump system. The majority of nurses indicated that the new system was easier or no more difficult to use than the existing i.v. infusion system and were in favor of switching to the new system. Implementation of a multiple-dose, multiple-flow-rate syringe pump system may result in cost savings over a traditional bottle and burette system and could complement an existing single-dose syringe infusion system.