Products
Infusion is the administration of a larger volume of fluid, usually intravenously into the blood, but also directly into organs or tissues. This is in contrast to injections, in which only small volumes are injected. The pharmacopoeia places special requirements on infusion preparations and the corresponding containers. Among other things, they must be germ-free, pyrogen-free, free of suspended solids and blood isotonic. Infusion preparations must not contain preservatives.
Ingredients
Infusion preparations may be aqueous solutions with the solvent water and oil-in-water emulsions. Various fatty oils, such as purified soybean oil, are used to prepare emulsions. In addition, infusion preparations may contain various pharmaceutical excipients. Water:
- Water for injection
For parenteral nutrition:
- Amino acids (Aminomix, Nutriflex).
- Fatty oils (Lipofundin, Intralipid, Lipovenös).
- Carbohydrates, e.g. glucose
- Vitamins and minerals
Solutions with effect on the electrolyte balance:
- Electrolytes, for example, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and chloride (Ringer’s fundin).
- Electrolytes with carbohydrates (glucosaline, saline-glucose mixed solutions).
- Ringer’s solutions, pure or with the addition of lactate, acetate, malate or glucose.
- Sodium chloride infusion solutions (NaCl).
Blood substitutes and plasma protein fractions:
- Albumin
- Gelatin-containing agents (Physiogel)
- Hydroxyethyl starch (HAES, Venofundin)
Active pharmaceutical ingredients:
- Numerous active ingredients are administered as infusions, for example cytostatics, antibiotics and monoclonal antibodies.
Effects
Parenteral administration has several advantages over oral administration. The effects occur more quickly and can be better controlled. The active ingredients and volume enter the blood directly and do not have to take a detour through the digestive tract and liver. Therefore, administration to unconscious or debilitated patients is also possible.
Indications
- Disturbances of the water and electrolyte balance
- Supply of acids and bases
- Parenteral nutrition: supply of carbohydrates, fats and amino acids.
- Blood transfusion, volume replacement
- Drug administration, diagnostics
- Carrier solutions for electrolyte concentrates and drugs.
