A Murphy drip is a rectal infusion apparatus to administer the medical procedure of proctoclysis, also known as rectoclysis.[2][3] During the procedure, an end of the Murphy drip is inserted into the rectum and large quantities of liquid are infused into the rectum drop by drop.[4] Prior to fluids or medicines being given intravenously, the Murphy drip and hypodermoclysis were the prime routes to administer fluids such as for replacement when patients could not be fed by mouth.[5] American surgeon John Benjamin Murphy introduced the drip method of saline infusion per rectum in the treatment of peritonitis.[6] The Murphy drip can be used for administering drugs by this route and the apparatus is also used in conjunction with a catheter for bladder irrigation. The term can even be applied to apparatus used to administer fluids intravenously.[7]
- ^ Yung-Feng Hung, Automatically closed dripping apparatus for intravenous administration, US patent 5 234 414, filed 28 September 1992, issued 10 August 1993
- ^ The American Heritage Medical Dictionary, 2007, Houghton Mifflin Company.
- ^ Zerwekh, Joyce. (February 1, 2003) Nursing. End-of-life hydration—benefit of burden? Volume 33; Issue 2; Page 1.
- ^ Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, 3 ed. 2007, Elsevier Inc.
- ^ Mullane, Mary K. (December 31, 2000) Nursing Forum A glance back in time. Volume 35; Issue 4; Page 41.
- ^ Rutkow, Ira M. (March 2001) Journal of the American Medical Association Moments in Surgical History: John Benjamin Murphy, 1857-1916. Arch Surg, March 2001; 136: 359.
- ^ "New Syphilis Cure", TIME Magazine, 22 April 1940, Time Inc. retrieved online 20 June 2008.