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Constant-rate infusion of opiates

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Constant-rate pump infusion of opiates into peripheral veins is one means of ensuring that opioid delivery is guaranteed. However, there are many problems with this method:

  • the drug takes 4-5 half-lives to reach a steady state concentration; hence, toxicity may occur many hours after the start of an infusion
  • respiratory depression and obstructive sleep apnoea can occur
  • a low patient:nurse ratio is required to monitor treatment correctly

The incidence of complications makes patient-controlled analgesia preferable to constant-rate infusion.

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