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Review
. 2025 Jun;37(2):255-275.
doi: 10.1016/j.cnc.2025.01.004. Epub 2025 Apr 3.

Intravenous Smart Pumps: A Review of the Safety Implications for the Most Ubiquitous Technology in US Acute Care

Jeannine W C Blake  1 , Karen Meade  2 , Karen K Giuliano  3
Affiliations
Review

Intravenous Smart Pumps: A Review of the Safety Implications for the Most Ubiquitous Technology in US Acute Care

Jeannine W C Blake et al. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Infusion of fluids and medications through an intravenous smart pump (IVSP) is widely used for inpatient care in the United States yet carries high risk of error, especially for critically ill patients. This review article aims to provide critical care nurses understanding of the current IVSP technology available focusing primarily on large volume IVSPs used most in the United States. Discussion focuses on the types of technology and their history in practice along with common causes of error and challenges for nursing workflow.

Keywords: Critical care; Infusion device safety; Infusion pumps; Intravenous infusions; Intravenous smart pumps; Medical device design; Medication error.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure J. Blake is a research consultant and advisor to ICU Medical. J. Blake and K K. Giuliano have received research support in the form of in-kind donations of supplies and equipment from ICU Medical and Ivenix. K. Meade has no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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