Our Infusions

Infusion therapy treats diagnosed conditions or diseases that cannot be treated with, or have not responded to prescribed oral medications.

Our state-of-the-art infusion centre is manned by experienced and compassionate staff expertly trained in infusion administration.

The Cape Town Infusion Centre offers a variety of medical-grade infusions, tailored to meet each patient’s specific needs in a comfortable and welcoming out-patient setting.

INTRAVENOUS INFUSIONS:

Before starting your intravenous infusion, the professional staff will discuss the entire process with you. In order for an intravenous infusion be it medication or fluid, to be administered directly into the bloodstream, an IV cannula will need to be inserted into your vein. This will be inserted by an experienced trained nursing sister.

The nursing sister allocated to your case will check your veins and select the most appropriate vein for cannula insertion and infusion delivery. This is usually in the forearm or hand. A tourniquet is applied to make the vein more visible, then a small plastic tube (cannula) is inserted into the vein via a needle. Once the cannula is inserted the needle is removed, leaving the soft flexible little cannula in the vein through which the medication or fluid is administered. The tourniquet is then removed, and a simple plaster applied to secure the cannula for the duration of the infusion. Discomfort should be minimal and disappears soon after the needle is removed from the cannula. Once your IV line is in position, the infusion commences. If at any time your IV site feels uncomfortable, please let the staff know. Once your infusion is completed the cannula is removed and pressure is applied to the site to stop any bleeding. There may be some bruising and irritation at the IV site for a few days after your infusion. There is a small risk of infection with any medical procedure, please monitor the IV site over the next 7 days for redness or pain. If this does occur or you are concerned, please contact your doctor or the infusion centre for advice.

Types of Infusions:

BIOLOGIC INFUSIONS

These are immunosuppressant medications used to manage autoimmune diseases

  • TOCILIZUMAB – ACTEMRA
  • VEDOLIZUMAB – ENTYVIO
  • INFLIXIMAB – REVELLEX, REMSIMA, REMIFLIX
  • USTEKINUMAB – STELARA
  • RITUXIMAB -MABTHERA

IRON INFUSIONS:

These medical-grade drugs are used to treat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia

Iron is an essential mineral within your body. Adequate levels of iron are needed for normal production of haemoglobin and red blood cells, which carry oxygen in the blood around your body. Iron de­ficiency can cause fatigue, poor effort tolerance, lack of concentration and mental processing and low mood. Iron deficiency, if not corrected, can lead to anaemia, and has very similar symptoms to iron deficiency but these symptoms can be more severe. Anaemia can also cause pica – a craving to eat things like ice, paper, sand etc. Shortness of breath on exertion can also be a symptoms of low iron levels and anaemia. In pregnancy, iron de­ficiency can impact the developing foetus causing restricted foetal growth which can result in a low birth baby and can a have long term impact on the baby into adulthood.

Iron defi­ciency has many different causes which may require further investigation by your doctor. Intravenous iron infusions replace the body’s low iron stores rapidly with few side effects. If you have been referred for an iron infusion for treatment of iron defi­ciency you will be receiving a medication containing iron directly into your vein. The staff will discuss the risks associated with intravenous iron prior to commencing your infusion. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them.

  • TOTAL DOSE IRONS: MONOFER, FERINJECT
  • IRON SUCROSES: VENOFER, RAUTEVENE, EQUIFER, SUCROFER

CORTICOSTEROIDS:

High dose intravenous steroids are used to suppress an acute autoimmune response for example in early renal transplant rejection or peri-orbital swelling

  • SOLUMEDROL

BONE HEALTH INFUSIONS:

Used for the treatment of osteoporosis or Paget’s Disease

BISPHOSPHONATES:

  • ACLASTA, ZOCLASTA and other generics
  • ZOMETA

OTHER MEDICATIONS:

IMMUNOGLOBULINS

SUB CUTANEOUS INJECTIONS

INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTIONS – B12, NEUROBIAN