Risk of leaks, chemo drug spills prompt CancerCare Manitoba to stop using some IV pump equipment: memo

Manitoba's cancer authority has stopped using an infusion pump line — made by a company whose IV pumps have been the subject of recalls — over concerns about leakage and the increased risk of potentially hazardous chemotherapy drug spills, according to a memo obtained by CBC News.

On Dec. 17, 2024, CancerCare Manitoba recommended community cancer care program directors and managers stop using B. Braun Cyto-Set lines in early 2025.

"Over the last year, there have been increased risks and concerns brought forward," the memo said.

B. Braun signed a service agreement with Shared Health in September 2021 to supply service delivery organizations, including CancerCare Manitoba, with large volume infusion pumps, IV and blood administration sets. 

The Cyto-Set lines are specifically designed to deliver chemotherapy drugs to patients through intravenous therapy.

Issues with the lines include challenges with lack of compatibility with other IV equipment, leaking and increased hazardous spills, inconsistent supply with frequent shortages and lack of standardization with other equipment, according to the CancerCare memo.

CancerCare "has been working with [the] Shared Health Supply Chain to ensure a smooth transition of product from the B. Braun CytoSets to B. Braun Infusomat primary lines and the current provincial contracted Baxter secondary lines," the memo states.

The lines, or tubes, are hooked up to an IV pump which delivers fluids or doses of medications in a controlled way to a patient. 

The B. Braun Cyto-Set lines being pulled by CancerCare have not been subject to a recall.

According to Health Canada, however, certain models of an IV pump made by the same manufacturer have been previously recalled by the company.  

The CancerCare memo said B. Braun Infusomat Space large volume infusion pumps have been in use in Manitoba for around a year and a half. Some models of these devices have been the subject of recalls in both Canada and the United States.

One front-line health-care worker, whose identity CBC has agreed to keep confidential over concerns their job could be affected by speaking publicly, said staff are wasting valuable time to make sure the recalled pumps work properly.

"It's just astronomical amounts of time and effort to infuse these drugs that traditionally we didn't even consider the time it took to use a pump or a line," the worker said. "They were just a tool that helped us do our job."

According to Health Canada, B. Braun Medical Inc. notified the department on June 12, 2024, about a recall of its Horizon and Infusomat space pumps.