01 February 2022
A syringe driver is a device used for administering medications subcutaneously to patients in a range of healthcare settings (Dickman and Schneider, 2016). However, this device is most commonly used in palliative and end-of-life care, which this article will focus on. They are small, battery-operated devices allowing portability and discretion, which are placed under the skin (subcutaneously) and typically infuse medication over 24 hours before requiring replenishment (Marie Curie, 2021). Using a syringe driver does not always signify that a person has reached the last days of their life. Instead, they function as a convenient method of administering medication for those patients who are unable to take prescriptions orally. The Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines (2020) explain that their use is valuable for patients who are experiencing bowel obstruction, malabsorption, nausea, vomiting, dysphagia or reduced consciousness, such as that seen towards the end of life.
