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Missing CSCI Prescription Volume — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

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ModerateSyringe Driver & Drug CompatibilityMissing CSCI Prescription VolumeSCE Palliative Medicine

A patient's CSCI prescription is: 'Diamorphine 20 mg + Midazolam 10 mg in water for injection via CSCI over 24 hours via McKinley T34 pump.' What CRITICAL prescribing element is missing from this prescription?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: CThe total volume of the syringe after dilution is not specified — needed to programme the infusion rate correctly

Explanation lettering: B = shown as A · C = shown as B · A = shown as C

Correct answer is A. UK syringe pump prescribing standards require inclusion of the final volume (medicine plus diluent), as it is essential for safe pump programming and dose delivery under CSCI. Guidance from East Lancashire Hospitals mandates that final volume be “clearly written on the prescription chart” ([lancsmmg.nhs.uk](https://www.lancsmmg.nhs.uk/media/1910/44-sp-policy-cp22v64version.pdf?utm_source=openai)). The McKinley T34 depends on knowing the syringe volume to compute infusion rate (ml/hr over 24 h) ([elft.nhs.uk](https://www.elft.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2022-01/Syringe%20Driver%20Policy%201.0.pdf?utm_source=openai)). Options B–E are either irrelevant to pump function (brand of diluent, syringe colour), or relate to general prescription formality but are not critical to technical CSCI operation.

Reference: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust syringe pump prescribing policy (2025), Cheshire epaige NHS Trust syringe driver procedure (2019), https://www.cheshire-epaige.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Syringe-Driver-Procedure-for-the-administrationof-medicationvia-a-subcutaneousroute-including-use-of-Mc-Kinley-T34-syringe-driver-ECT002989-1.pdf