Whether you’re undergoing a routine medical procedure or complex cancer treatments, Bayhealth’s experts uphold the highest standards of success. We provide you with individualized care through every step of the process, from screening to diagnosis, to treatment and survivorship support. All members of our team work collaboratively, using the most advanced technologies and board-certified approaches, including infusion therapy.
What Happens During Infusion Therapy?
A common aspect of numerous treatments and procedures, infusion therapy involves administering medication directly into your body through a needle or thin tube (catheter). Often the most effective method for drug administration, infusion therapy is commonly performed intravenously (IV), meaning the drug is delivered through one of your veins.
Other common infusion methods include the following.
● Epidural: Commonly used in the treatment of labor pain, this type of infusion involves injecting an anesthetic or steroid near the spinal cord. Depending on several factors, our experts may perform a single-injection epidural or insert a catheter for multiple doses.
● Intramuscular: This form of infusion delivers a drug into one of your muscles.
● Subcutaneous: Meaning “under the skin,” subcutaneous infusion involves injecting medication into the layer of fat just beneath your skin.
While drug infusions are the most common form of infusion therapy, other forms involve fluid replacements and blood transfusions. Infusion is also a useful option for patients who cannot take drug treatments orally. If several rounds of infusion therapy are necessary, our experts might implant a “port” under your skin for easy access to your vein, limiting discomfort.