Are smart pumps smart?

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I just found out that I have been volunteered to be on the new smart pump committee. I have never used them. Can someone fill me in on how they are 'smart?' Let's say I have a Heparin drip. What would it tell me?

Pro's and cons?

Thanks!

Specializes in Plastics. General Surgery. ITU. Oncology.

Use the little device attached to all IV giving sets...THE CLAMP to stop the infusion immediately.

Detach giving set from pump.

Change pump.

No big deal.

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Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.
Use the little device attached to all IV giving sets...THE CLAMP to stop the infusion immediately.

Detach giving set from pump.

Change pump.

No big deal.

Even that brief interruption could drop a B/P in a critically ill p't

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In general, we loathe them and prefer the old IVAC. Very sensitive to the smallest of airbubbles and change in pt. arm position, lots of alarms.

Ours are being constantly "updated".

Just give me back my old IVAC

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Specializes in Oncology.
true story: Walked into a room where a triple smart pump went into failure all at once. No big deal? Well the levophed was going through it and the time it took to unload and locate a new pump put the patient at risk. I saw the sbp go from 90 when we entered the room to 50 when the iv was resumed. smart pumps scare me but what can we do?

I'm confused at how this is related to the smart pump specifically. Any pump can fail and will take time to replace. If I'm caring for a patient dependent on pressors I try and have a second pump in the room. Usually we have enough pumps to permit this.

If it was between not running the infusion at all and having my patient tank their bp, I might not be against running it to gravity with the roller clamp while a pump was found as long as someone could stay in the room. I'm not sure what I would do.

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