Impact of air temperature and drug concentration on liquid emission from elastomeric pumps

Tomoya Abe,Masanobu Otsuka,Kazumasa Matsuzaka,Toshiaki Nakayama,Tetsuro Yumoto,Atsunobu Sagara,Fumiaki Sato

doi:10.1186/s40780-020-00185-5

Tomoya Abe, Masanobu Otsuka + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40780-020-00185-5

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Abstract

BackgroundElastomeric pumps (EPs) are devices that allow quantitative and continuous drug administration without the need for electronic control, and they are used by being filled with anticancer agents. Although the package inserts of several manufacturers that provide EPs describe the relationship between the flow rate per unit time and temperature, the solution is only saline solution or 5% glucose solution, and data on anticancer drugs have not been published. In this study, we focused on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a drug frequently used in cancer chemotherapy, and examined the effect of changes in standard of EPs and temperature on drug emission.MethodsWe evaluated the EP data of patients treated with Baxter Infusor® LV5 and SV2.5 in terms of emission rate, relationship between 5-FU prescription amount and emission rate, and relationship between emission rate and monthly air temperature in LV5 and SV2.5. The number of EPs sampled in the study was N = 5708 (n = 2988 for LV5 and n = 2720 for SV2.5).ResultsIn LV5, the emission rate varied from 88 to 97% (median 94.0%), whereas in SV2.5, the emission rate was observed as 97 to 98% (median 97.4%). The 5-FU prescription amount and the emission rate were not correlated in LV5 and SV2.5, respectively (LV5; y = − 0.0015x + 97.305, R2 = 0.0226, SV2.5; y = − 0.001x + 100.25, R2 = 0.0466). LV5 showed a higher emission rate in the months with higher air temperature and a lower emission rate in the month with lower air temperature. In addition, LV5 showed a significant reduction in emission rate compared with SV2.5 in all months (P < 0.001).ConclusionsIn this study, we clarified that air temperature is an important factor that affects the drug emission of EPs. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the conditions for total fluid volume suitable for the air temperature in each region and to provide sufficient information to patients.

Highlights

Elastomeric pumps (EPs) are devices that allow quantitative and continuous drug administration without the need for electronic control, and they are used by being filled with anticancer agents
With recent advances in cancer chemotherapy, it has been reported that the shift from inpatient to outpatient treatment reduces the burden on patients and improves treatment satisfaction
We focused on 5-FU as one of the drugs frequently used in cancer chemotherapy and examined the effect of variations in EP standards and changes in temperature on drug emission

Summary

Introduction

Elastomeric pumps (EPs) are devices that allow quantitative and continuous drug administration without the need for electronic control, and they are used by being filled with anticancer agents. We focused on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a drug frequently used in cancer chemotherapy, and examined the effect of changes in standard of EPs and temperature on drug emission. Elastomeric pumps (EPs) are devices that allow quantitative and continuous drug administration without the need for electronic control, and are used by being filled with antibacterial agents, analgesics, and anticancer agents [1,2,3,4]. Infusion pumps or EPs can be used for the continuous administration of these agents. EPs are highly safe medical devices that do not require a speed setting, and they discharge a drug solution at a constant speed.

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