Management of Subcutaneous Infusions in Palliative Care Video Transcript: “Who Needs One?” Excerpt from Chapter 2 – ‘Who Needs one?’ of Brisbane South Palliative Care Collaborative’s Guide for Clinicians – How to Use a Syringe Driver for Palliative Care Patients Syringe Drivers – Who needs one. Narrator: "This section looks at who might need a syringe driver, breakthrough medication as well as medications which are suitable and unsuitable to use in syringe drivers. Not all patients require a syringe driver, however those who need a syringe driver include patients who have an impairment in their ability to swallow, require complex symptom management or are experiencing nausea and vomiting where alternative routes of administration are inappropriate. To get started you need a medical order for a subcutaneous twenty four (24) hour infusion. The order should state the daily dosage of the drugs to be used. It is common for two to three drugs to be mixed together in the syringe. If you are unsure of the availability of certain drugs contact your pharmacist. Patients may also need or require breakthrough medications for symptom control. If these have not been prescribed, the treating doctor should be contacted." End of Transcript.