Reliable, Fast Symptom Management with Oral Medications
The Macy Catheter is an FDA-cleared medication and fluid administration device that helps nurses and family caregivers use oral medications already at the bedside to achieve quick and effective symptom management.
Patients report relief within 15-20 minutes of receiving medications via the Macy Catheter.
The Macy Catheter provides an effective alternative to intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SubQ), sublingual, and transdermal delivery by providing a dignified and comfortable method for rectal administration of routine oral solids and liquids.
Patient Comfort and Dignity Comes First
Brad Macy, RN, BA, BSN is a veteran hospice nurse. Over the years, Brad observed thousands of difficult symptom management cases while assisting patients and their families in the middle of the night. The most challenging cases were when patients could not swallow medications, but their end-of- life symptoms were spiraling out of control.
In his work at the bedside, Brad noticed that using the rectal route to administer medication helped him get even severe symptoms for complex patients managed.
While suppositories are invasive and unreliable, Brad figured out that when oral medications are crushed, suspended in liquid, and administered rectally, absorption is quick and reliably effective.
Brad invented the Macy Catheter so that patients could benefit from the clinical effectiveness of the rectal route without compromising dignity.
That’s why:
- The Macy Catheter is small and soft.
The medication port is located on the thigh (patients don’t have to be disturbed). - The Macy Catheter is indwelling and can remain inserted for 28 days.
Peace of Mind for a Family Caregiver
“Many times when our loved ones are disoriented and racked with pain, caregivers also are greatly, greatly affected, and we want to do the best, but sometimes we don’t know what is best. And so I’m very grateful that in my sister’s case, in Alice’s case, in our family’s case, the Macy Catheter was what would save her…”
Geraldine Wolfolk
Family CaregiverWhen is the Macy Catheter the right choice?
Most of the time, hospice nurses can get symptoms under control very quickly because that’s their specialty.
But sometimes, patients cannot swallow their oral medications and sublingual (under the tongue) medication administration doesn’t do enough.
Sublingual administration can work well.
But when it doesn’t, symptom control takes much longer to achieve (if at all), and the patient can be put at risk of aspiration with large and frequent doses of bad-tasting liquid medications that sit in the mouth.
When sublingual isn’t working quickly, the patient likely needs the Macy Catheter.
The rectal route of administration is ideal for rapid control of severe symptoms. This route is especially relevant when a patient has difficulty swallowing or when the oral route is otherwise compromised.
Symptoms may include:
How does it work?
Oral tablets or liquids, like the ones found in comfort kits, can be administered through the Macy Catheter with little or no lag time in managing symptoms.
After the initial insertion, which is painless, the catheter can be accessed by clinicians and caregivers without turning or moving the patient. The medication port is located on the patient’s thigh or abdomen. Liquid medications can be administered directly into the medication port. To administer solid medications, clinicians and caregivers crush and suspend the medications in a water solution using the LiquiPill system (included in the Bedside Care Kit) before administering them via the port using a 10ml syringe.
The Macy Catheter vs. Alternatives
Other methods of medication administration don’t provide the same reliability.
IV and SubQ
- Not always available to hospice patients (especially those in the home) due to drug shortages and difficulties related to accessing and maintaining the equipment
- Requires additional wait times due to the associated new medications, supplies, and deliveries
- Poses risk for infection
- Can be difficult for family caregivers to learn how to use
- Tethers patients to needles/lines, hindering embraces and ambulatory movement
Sublingual (when it fails to provide quick relief)
Symptom chasing with large, frequent doses of liquid medications…
- Is time-consuming and sometimes futile
- Can put patients at risk of aspiration
Transdermal
- Does not lead to effective symptom management most of the time
- Most drug molecules are unsuitable for systemic absorption
- Can be challenging to titrate
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