McKinley T34 Syringe Pump v6

McKinley T34 Syringe Pump 

Patient Information

Palliative Care Services

• Author ID: SB
• Leaflet ref: PC 003
• Version: 6
• Leaflet title: McKinley T34 Syringe Pump
• Last review: August 2022
• Expiry date: August 2024

What is a syringe pump?

A syringe pump is a small, portable, battery powered digital machine.

• Attached to the pump is a syringe containing the prescribed medication.  The syringe on the pump will need to be changed every 24 hours with the prescribed medication.
• Attached to the syringe is a thin piece of tubing with a very thin plastic tube which will have been inserted via needle and then removed Medication is pumped through the tubing which is situated under the skin.  This is how your body absorbs the medication.
• The syringe pump is placed in a plastic lock box.

Why do I need a syringe pump?

A syringe pump is designed to give you your prescribed medicines over a 24 hour period.

A syringe pump may be considered as a tool to help you in these situations:

• When you have difficulty in swallowing tablets.
• When you are vomiting or feeling sick.
• If you wish to avoid having regular injections.
• If you have a bowel obstruction.
• When you are too weak to take medicines by mouth

The medication contained in the syringe pump is calculated to give you the same effect over 24 hours as the medication you were taking by mouth.

Each day at around the same time your nurse will come to fill up a new syringe and to check the functioning of the machine.

Sometimes, people use a syringe pump for a short time and are then able to take medication by mouth again.  The nursing and medical staff will review this on a regular basis.

Where will the needle be inserted?

Your nurse will insert the needle just under the skin, in one of the following sites:

• The chest.
• The upper arms.
• The stomach area.
• The upper thighs.

The needle will then be withdrawn which will leave a thin plastic tube insitu which will be covered and secured by a dressing. Usually the tube can stay in one place for several days.  If the site becomes red, painful or hard the nurse will re-site the needle 

What do I need to know about the syringe pump?

The syringe pump is a very reliable machine.  Here are some helpful hints:

• An alarm will sound if the syringe is empty, the battery level is low or the tube is blocked or kinked. 
• It is normal for a green light which is situated at the front of the syringe pump to flash. Please inform staff if it stops.
• Please inform staff if the needle site becomes sore, swollen or the syringe becomes disconnected.
• If you feel well enough, you can continue with your normal activities.
• If you have a shower or a bath, do not allow the site to become wet and keep the machine out of water.
• Sometimes, it is necessary to use two syringe pumps.  This is because some drugs cannot be mixed with each other

Examples of commonly used drugs in syringe pumps include:

Your symptoms will be regularly reviewed, and your medication adjusted accordingly.  If required, it is given in addition to your medication in the syringe pump.

The syringe pump lock box

The lock box is a plastic case in which the syringe pump is placed whilst in use.  It is used to safeguard your medication in the syringe pump whilst it is working.

What happens when I go home?

Your district nurse will care for your syringe pump once you are home and will provide all the equipment related to it.  The district nurse will visit daily to check and reload the syringe driver and to make any adjustments to the medication you may need.

If you think your syringe driver is not working, don’t panic!  Most medicines given via the syringe driver take some time to get out of your system and you are unlikely to have any short term effects if it has stopped.

Contact information

Whilst in hospital you may speak to a member of staff on the ward who will contact the Hospital Palliative Care Team for you.  Alternatively, you may telephone 01942 822008, 7 days a week core hour 8.30am until4.30pm  

Other telephone numbers that may be useful: