Safety Communications > Syringe Pump Problems with Fluid Flow Continuity at Low Infusion Rates Can Result in Serious Clinical Consequences: FDA Safety Communication

Safety Communications > Syringe Pump Problems with Fluid Flow Continuity at Low Infusion Rates Can Result in Serious Clinical Consequences: FDA Safety Communication

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Safety Communication on “Syringe Pumps and Problems with Fluid Flow Continuity at Low Infusion Rates Can Result in Serious Clinical Consequences.” The FDA is informing health care professionals that when using programmable syringe pumps to infuse therapies at low rates (e.g., less than 5 mL per hour, and especially at flow rates of less than 0.5 mL per hour), a lack of flow continuity can result in serious clinical consequences, including delay of therapy, over-infusion or under-infusion.

The FDA Safety Communication is available on the FDA website:  http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm518049.htm

Thank you,

Food and Drug Administration
Center for Devices and Radiological Health