A syringe driver is a small, battery-powered device that holds a syringe with medication. The device usually delivers the medication over 24 hours, occasionally less. The medication is given slowly through an injection under your skin (this is sometimes called continuous subcutaneous infusion).
You might have a syringe driver for medicines to help manage pain, sickness (nausea or vomiting), seizures, agitation or breathing problems. In New Zealand, the Niki T34 syringe driver is the device used in your home.
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Syringe drivers
Key points about syringe driver
- A syringe driver is a small, battery-powered pump that delivers medication from a syringe at a constant rate throughout the day and night.
- It’s common to feel nervous about having a syringe driver but most people find that they are very helpful for managing pain and other symptoms and give a feeling of reassurance.
Syringe drivers are usually used if you can't take medications by mouth (tablets, capsules or liquids), eg, if you:
- have ongoing nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick)
- have swallowing difficulties or are too weak to swallow
- have an obstruction in your stomach or gut
- are not alert enough to swallow.
Syringe drivers can be used either short term or long term.
Syringe drivers may be used in the last few weeks and days of life but they can be useful at any stage. Some people are worried that a syringe driver can make death come sooner. There is no evidence to suggest that this is true. Syringe drivers are often used at the end of life because they are the easiest way to give someone the medicines they need to feel comfortable at that time.
Your medicines are put into a syringe, and the syringe driver pushes the medicines through a soft plastic tube and into your body. The needle to insert the tube is very fine. It is usually inserted just under the skin on your upper arm, thigh or abdomen (tummy) and then the needle is removed once the soft plastic tube is in place.
Your syringe driver has a computer and a small screen. It calculates the rate (how fast) your medicines should be given and displays this on the screen.
- Your syringe driver will be set up for you by your nurse.
- The medicines will be changed or topped up each day by your nurse or you may have a new syringe provided by a pharmacy (this will depend on your local situation).
- Your nurse will change the soft plastic tubing and injection site regularly.
- It might hurt a little bit when your nurse puts the needle under your skin to insert the thin plastic tubing, but after that, having a syringe driver should be painless.
- The medicines take a few hours to reach a steady level in your body so you might not feel an effect from the medicines straight away.
Having your medicines in a syringe driver shouldn’t make you any less mobile than before. If you are active, you can carry it around with you in a special bag.
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In general, syringe drivers are safe, reliable and don’t need a lot of care. However, it’s important to:
- keep the syringe driver and area around the needle dry
- avoid dropping it
- keep the syringe driver dry when washing — if you drop it into water, contact your nurse or doctor
- take extra care when washing and dressing to make sure the tube isn’t pulled out.
Things to look out for
Your nurse will come to visit you and check the syringe driver every day, but there are things you or your carer can check too.
- Keep the syringe driver and the area around the needle clean and dry. Your nurse will show you how to do this.
- Look out for any changes in the area around the needle, such as skin irritation, redness or discomfort.
- Let your nurse or doctor know if your symptoms are not under control. Your doctor can change or adjust your medicines.
- If the syringe driver stops working, don't worry, the effect of the medicines will continue for a while. Call your doctor or nurse as soon as possible.
- If the alarm goes off, there may be a problem with the syringe driver. Let your nurse know so they can come and check it. An alarm may just mean it needs a new battery. Your nurse will provide batteries and a spare one.
- The driver display will alert you if there are any blockages or leaks. Blockages can happen if you accidentally lie on one of the tubes, for example.
Watch this video on how to use a syringe drive. Note this video is from the UK and may carry different instructions to syringe drivers used in NZ.
(Marie Curie Support Line, UK, 2018)
Learn more about how to use the syringe driver and how to care for it at home
Syringe driver handbook – a guide for patients and families [PDF, 1 MB] Mercy Hospice, NZ
Resources
5 questions to ask about your medications(external link) Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English(external link), te reo Māori(external link)
References
- When and how to use a syringe driver in palliative care(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2012
- Guidelines for syringe driver management in palliative care in New Zealand(external link) Ministry of Health, NZ, 2009
- NIKI T34 syringe pump instruction manual(external link) Caesarea Medical Electronics, 2008
- The palliative care handbook(external link) NZ, 2019
Credits: Sandra Ponen, Pharmacist, Healthify He Puna Waiora. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
Reviewed by: Emma Griffiths, Specialist Palliative Care Pharmacist, Mercy Hospice, Auckland; Angela Lambie, Pharmacist, Auckland
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