Two IV lines

[ag2005]

this is probably a stupid question...but say a patient has two IV lines...heparin is going in one, patient ordered fresh frozen plasma...fresh frozen plasma started in other IV line...so is it ok for heparin to continue running in the other line? i know this may be dumb, but just seeing if it makes a difference.

thanks

[ghostcat]

No stupid questions here! Yes, it is fine. What always seems odd to me, and what I did yesterday, is giving heparin in one line and packed cells in the other. It was a post-OHS guy, so I guess they don't want clots!

[papawjohn]

Hey AG2005

Would have been more useful in thinking about your question if you'd told us a little about the Patient. I imagine (almost 'assumed' but you know what happens when you 'assume' 8->) that the Pt had DIC? If so, the goal of the heparin is to save as much of the Pt's own clotting mechanism as possible. It makes sense but is weird to do--giving heparin to someone who's bleeding though old IM injection sites, last week's IV sites, etc. So I understand the question. The answer--yeah, give it.

Papaw John

[Gail-Anne]

I'd probably be querying more if pt had heparin in one and platelets in the other! Remember, the 1/2 life of Heparin is about 5-6 hrs. (I used to know the time for sure...memory isn't what it used to be).

I'm wondering if your question had more to do with compatibility? If so, general rule of thumb is anything is compatible once mixed with blood, that's why you can have 2 IVs along same vein tracks if necessary.

One note of caution re: 2 IVs though.... If running a couple of units of blood (not talking about an actively bleeding person here) and person is on regular IV of, say, 1000ml/hr, turn the IV down. I've been to cardiac arrests on elderly people who were put into CHF getting their hgb topped up after surgery. We didn't have to think of this before pca pumps, as IV fld was stopped and blood hung, now we need that 2nd IV and it's an easy thing to not think of on a busy day.