Handling errors in conventional and smart pump infusions: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Objective: To identify the scientific evidence on the frequency of handling errors of conventional and smart pump infusions in intravenous insulin therapy in intensive care units. Method: A systematic review with meta-analysis conducted in the Virtual Health Library, MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Articles were assessed regarding the level of evidence by applying the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine Evidence Scale. Results: Twelve (12) publications were selected which met the eligibility criteria. The programming error rate using the conventional infusion pump ranged from 10% to 40.1%, and the smart pump technology error rate ranged from 0.3 to 14%. The meta-analysis of two studies favored the smart pump in reducing the relative risk of programming errors by 51%. Conclusion: Based on selected articles, the smart pump reduces the risk of programming errors.