Published December 8, 2023
An elastomeric pump, commonly referred to as a “balloon” or “ball” pump (Figure 1), is a small, lightweight, non-electric medicine pump. Elastomeric pumps are used to deliver injectable medicine gradually over several days (e.g., up to 5 days). They are a safe and convenient way for people to receive pain medicine, chemotherapy, or other medicines at home. Typically, an elastomeric pump is connected to the person in an outpatient clinic, doctor’s office, or hospital, but it can also be set up by a home care nurse in the person’s home.
An elastomeric pump uses pressure to release the medicine. The delivery rate of the medicine is controlled by a combination of the pressure from the medicine in the balloon and a sensor (flow restrictor) on the tubing (Figure 1). The ball will slowly begin to wrinkle (Figure 2) as the medicine empties. Healthcare staff who set up and connect the elastomeric pump for you should provide clear instructions about how the pump will function and what you need to do while it is connected. For example, you should know how long it will take the medicine to infuse, what you can and cannot do while connected to the pump, and what you should do if the medicine is leaking or infusing faster than expected. The following is an example of an error we received.
A man with prostate cancer was to receive chemotherapy for 5 days via an elastomeric pump. He went to his doctor’s office where a nurse connected the elastomeric pump with the medicine. The man then made an appointment to return in 5 days to have the pump disconnected after the chemotherapy infused. The day after the pump was connected, the man had a scheduled radiation treatment. Before going to the treatment, he noticed the “balloon” on the elastomeric pump was completely empty. He mentioned it to the radiation therapist during his treatment. However, the therapist was not familiar with the elastomeric pump. The man said he would follow up with his doctor in 4 days when he was to have the pump disconnected.
When he returned to the doctor’s office as scheduled, he told the nurse his pump was empty the morning after it was connected. The nurse said he should have immediately called when he noticed the pump was empty. The pump was disconnected from the man and at that time it was discovered that the wrong elastomeric pump was used. When the chemotherapy was prepared, it was put into an elastomeric pump that had a flow restrictor that delivered the medicine over 24 hours instead of 5 days. As a result, the man experienced serious side effects including severe diarrhea, extreme fatigue, fever, and shortness of breath.
Here’s what you can do: If you or your family member require an elastomeric pump to receive medicine at home, be sure to request written instructions from your healthcare provider. This should include important information such as how to wear (position) the elastomeric pump on your body, what you should and should not do while the elastomeric pump is connected to you, and if you should avoid any activities such as exercising or showering while wearing it. Always review the label attached to the pump to make certain it has the correct information, including your name, date of birth, the name of the medicine, and how long the medicine is expected to last. Avoid lying on or squeezing the pump since this can change the rate the medicine infuses. Be sure you understand the plan for disconnecting the pump. Contact your healthcare provider if your medicine is completed sooner than expected.
