The Use of Syringe Sets to Cut Drug Ampules, an Innovation - นวัตกรรมการหักแอมพ์ยาด้วยไซริงก์

Abstract

          A common problem found at Nongbua Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital (SHPH) was the difficulty in cutting drug ampule, particularly when providing injection service to psychiatric patients. Occasionally, some ampules were difficult to open; and in some incidents, the drug ampules were broken causing injury to staff and loss of drug. In fiscal year 2011, the rate of ampule break dowm was 9.8%, staff injury was recorded in 0.8% of the incidents, and the cost of drug loss was 1,158 baht. To solve the
problem, the author had developed an innovation for cutting drug ampules by modifying used syringe sets which were easily available and cheap, to produce an ampule cutting device. The process was quite simple. Different sizes of syringes were collected, and the tips of each syringe was cut to become a cylinder tube. The set (tube and plunger) would now be ready to use. Two sets were required to cut a drug ampule: the first set was for placing the ampule by putting into the cylinder tube and adjusting the plunger so that the neck of the ampule would be at the open end of the tube; and the second set, usually at a smaller size, was use to cover the tip of the ampule. Twisting the second syringe set would result in cutting of the ampule, and the drug would now be ready to use. A study was conducted during January - June 2013 to assess the effectiveness of the use of the innovation. Altogether 54 ampules of drugs were cut during the study period. It was found that there was no incident of breakage, and majority of hospital staff were satisfied with the use. The author had disseminate the innovation to 16 SHPHs in the district; and similar findings were observed, including the satisfaction expressed by health personnel and the absence of drug ampule
breakage. In addition, the innovation had produced benefits to patients who could be able to get full dose of the medicine for their treatment. Thus, this innovation should be widely promoted to ease ampule cutting, reduce staff injuries and save the cost of drugs which would otherwise be required when drug ampules are broken during the attempt to cut through the ordinary mean.
Key words: drug ampule, syringe, innovation.