MONITORING OF INFUSION PRESSURES IN NEONATAL INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT

The consequences of catheter occlusions are particularly dangerous in neonates. For early detection and to efficiently prevent such occlusions, the monitoring of infusion pressure by a variable pressure pump is reported. Two ways of monitoring can be recommended: easy viewing of infusion pressure and programming a pressure limit. Infusion pressure is recorded at around +/- 30 cm water pressure of the mean day pressure. Consequently, a rise above this gap must be considered as suspect. The regular viewing of this measurement is a way of predicting such problems as occlusions. The optimum pressure limit is programmed at 30 cm water pressure above the infusion pressure. This alarm may identify the beginning of occlusions or reduce the extent of tissue damage in early detecting of an infiltration.