Information for patients and familiesYour 46 Hour Infusor

This pamphlet has important information about:

• How your Infusor works

• How to care for and carry your Infusor

• Important tips for safety

• Important numbers to call if you need help

Your medicine is set to finish in 46 hours. Call the Medical Daycare Unit if your medicine is finished in less than 41 hours.

Adapted from “Your 46 hour infusion pump” with permission from the University Health Network Patient and Caregiver Education Program

What is a 46 Hour Infusor?

The Infusor is a lightweight disposable pump. It gives you your chemotherapy drug slowly over 46 hours. The chemotherapy drug is in the balloon inside the pump.

This Infusor lets you continue with your regular daily activities.

How does the Infusor work?

The Infusor is connected to your central access line (Port a Cath or PICC line) and will empty your medicine into your vein.

What needs to happen before I get my Infusor?

First, you will need a central access line to be inserted. The central access line is a long thin tube that is inserted under the skin into a large blood vessel. It will carry the medicine from the Infusor to your blood. It usually stays in place as long as you are having chemotherapy.

Wear loose clothing with large sleeves, short sleeves, or no sleeves to make it easier for your nurse to attach the Infusor.

Balloon with medicine

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What is a 46 Hour Infusor? The Infusor is a lightweight disposable pump. It gives you your chemotherapy drug slowly over 46 hours. The chemotherapy drug is in the balloon inside the pump.

This Infusor lets you continue with your regular daily activities.

Balloon with medicine Balloon without medicine

How does the Infusor work? The Infusor is connected to your central access line (Port a Cath or PICC line) and will empty your medicine into your vein. What needs to happen before I get my Infusor? First, you will need a central access line to be inserted. The central access line is a long thin tube that is inserted under the skin into a large blood vessel. It will carry the medicine from the Infusor to your blood. It usually stays in place as long as you are having chemotherapy.

Wear loose clothing with large sleeves, short sleeves, or no sleeves to make it easier for your nurse to attach the Infusor.

© UHN Patient Education Images reprinted with permission from UHN Patient and Caregiver Education Program.

Balloon without medicine

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What is a 46 Hour Infusor? The Infusor is a lightweight disposable pump. It gives you your chemotherapy drug slowly over 46 hours. The chemotherapy drug is in the balloon inside the pump.

This Infusor lets you continue with your regular daily activities.

Balloon with medicine Balloon without medicine

How does the Infusor work? The Infusor is connected to your central access line (Port a Cath or PICC line) and will empty your medicine into your vein. What needs to happen before I get my Infusor? First, you will need a central access line to be inserted. The central access line is a long thin tube that is inserted under the skin into a large blood vessel. It will carry the medicine from the Infusor to your blood. It usually stays in place as long as you are having chemotherapy.

Wear loose clothing with large sleeves, short sleeves, or no sleeves to make it easier for your nurse to attach the Infusor.

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How do I carry the Infusor around?

The Infusor will work in any position. Keep the Infusor at the same level as the Luer Lock connector. This is found at the end of the tubing. Your nurse will show you where this is.

You can use your own carrying case (like a fanny pack or shoulder purse).

How do I take care of the Infusor?

To make sure that you get your medicine safely while you are at home, follow these safety instructions:

• Bathing - It is important that the Infusor is not exposed to water. Shower or bathe after the Infusor is disconnected from your central access line.

• Sleeping - Place the Infusor at about the same level where the device connects to your central access line. You can place the Infusor on its side under your pillow.

• Exercise - It is safe to exercise with the Infusor as long as it remains close to room temperature and is not exposed to water.

• Pets - The Infusor is safe around pets, but make sure it is protected from chewing or playing.

• Environment - Keep the Infusor out of direct sunlight. Do not let it get very hot or cold. Do not have a sauna with the Infusor. Extreme temperatures can change the speed that your medicine is given. Do not get the infusor wet.

• Travel - It is safe to travel on planes that have pressurized cabins.

Also, the small white section on your tubing should be taped to your arm or chest at all times. This white section controls how fast the medicine goes into your vein. Your nurse will show you how it should be taped.

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How should I monitor the Infusor?

Check the balloon inside the Infusor each morning and evening.

• Check the Infusor for any leaks

• Check that the Infusor is connected

• Check that the balloon is shrinking

Your medicine should last approximately 46 hours. It is very important that your medicine is not pumped too fast or too slowly. The balloon should slowly shrink as time passes.

How will I know what size the balloon should be when I check it every day?

The pictures on the next page show the size the balloon should be at 12, 24, and 36 hours after the medicine has started. These pictures are only a general guide. It is okay if the balloon is a little bigger or smaller than shown below. Check if your medicine is going in too fast.

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Images reprinted with permission from Baxter, from the Patient Guide for Baxter Elastomeric Devices. 

12 hours infused

24 hours infused

36 hours infused

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Check if your medicine is going in too fast

• If your medicine finishes in less than 41 hours, your medicine may have gone in too fast. Call the Medical Daycare Unit Monday’s through Fridays for further instructions, see hours below or call CCAC nurse for after hours, weekends or holidays.

Check if your medicine is going in too slow

• The balloon will stay at about the same size for the first 12 hours. If the balloon is not getting smaller after the first 12 hours, your medicine may be going in too slow.

If balloon is not getting smaller

1. First, check that the clamps on your IV are open

2. Check that the tubing from the Infusor to your IV is not twisted or kinked

Important:

• If there are no twists in the tubing and the clamps are open, but the balloon is still the same size after the first 12 hours, call the Medical Daycare Unit for further instructions (Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 3:00 p.m.) or call the CCAC nurse for after hours, weekends or holidays

• If you cannot reach anyone at the Medical Daycare Unit or at CCAC, go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

Clamp is open Clamp is closed

© UHN Patient Education Images reprinted with permission from UHN Patient and Caregiver Education Program.

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What should I be careful about while I am getting chemotherapy at home?

Chemotherapy drugs can damage healthy cells as well as cancer cells. It is important to follow these safety instructions to keep you and your family safe:

• Do NOT remove or disconnect the Infusor, your home care nurse will disconnect once the infusion is complete

• If the case that carries your Infusor is washable, wash the carrying case by itself and dry it fully before placing the pump back in it

• Keep a chemotherapy spill kit in a place that is easy to reach

• Use a plastic backed mattress cover to protect your mattress from a spill

• Follow the instructions that your nurse gave you if you have a spill in your home

• If anybody is helping clean you, they should:

- Wear disposable gloves when cleaning body waste (vomit, stool or urine)

- Wear gloves when touching soiled sheets, bed pans or anything else that has come into contact with body waste

- Put disposable gloves in the garbage and tie it shut as soon as possible

- Always wash hands with soap and after removing gloves

- Pregnant or breast-feeding women should avoid handling your hazardous drugs

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If you notice a leak anywhere along the Infusor or the tubing, or if your IV becomes disconnected

• You or a family member should put on disposable gloves

• Clamp the line on your central access line (port-a-cath or PICC)

• Clean up spill as soon as possible to avoid spread to other areas. Follow instructions below on how to use your spill kit

• Call the Medical Daycare Unit for further instructions (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) or call CCAC after hours or weekends

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Instructions on how to use your spill kit

1. Open kit.

2. Put on disposable gloves.

3. Close all clamps.

4. If the Infusor is leaking, close all clamps, wrap the absorbent pad around leaking area, place Infusor in a plastic bag and go to your closest emergency to have it assessed.

5. If the Infusor is disconnected, close all clamps and go to your closest emergency department to have it assessed.

6. If liquid has spilled onto a surface, place the absorbent pad or paper towel over the spill to soak up wetness and put this absorbent pad into a garbage bag.

7. Use a paper towel or cloth that can be thrown away to wash the area with warm soapy water and rinse with clear water twice.

8. Put this cloth into the garbage bag after you are finished washing the surface.

9. Remove the gloves and place them in the garbage bag.

10. All disposable items that touched the drug should be placed in a garbage bag and tied shut and disposed of as soon as possible.

11. Wash your hands well with warm soapy water.

For more information on safe handling of chemotherapy drugs at home, please also review the handout Safety Measures for Handling Hazardous Drugs.

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What should I do with the Infusor when I finish my treatment?

CCAC will be in touch with you about your Infusor. When you finish your treatment, a CCAC nurse will disconnect it at the clinic or at home. It is okay if your Infusor is finished a few hours before your CCAC nurse disconnects your Infusor.

The empty Infusor must be placed in a chemotherapy waste container. Your CCAC nurse will give this to you if the Infusor is disconnected at home.

Remember, contact the Medical Daycare Unit if:• The balloon is smaller than it supposed to be (Infusor could be

infusing too fast)

• The balloon has burst or there is a crack in the plastic outer case

• The balloon or tubing is leaking medication, or dressing becomes wet or damp

• The balloon is bigger than it is supposed to be (Infusor could be infusing too slow)

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Who do I call for help with the Infusor?

• St. Michael’s Hospital Medical Daycare Unit.

- Open Mondays-Fridays only from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

- 416-864-6060 extension 1727

• CCAC

- Call your home care nurse (CCAC nurse) at the number provided to you evenings, weekends and holidays

- Call central CCAC at 310-2222 (no area code required) to get the phone numbers of your local CCAC and CCAC nurse

Emergency department

If at any time you are not able to get in contact with St. Michaels Hospital Medical Daycare Unit or a CCAC nurse, go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

73690 April 17 2017 V1

30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8 Canada416.864.6060 stmichaelshospital.com

St. Michael’s cares about your health.  For reliable health information, visit our Patient and Family Learning Centre, Room 6-004, 6th floor, Cardinal Carter Wing, or find us online at www.stmichaelshospital.com/learn

This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care.  Ask your healthcare provider about this information if you have questions.