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How much air is too much



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Aug 30, 2009 02:18 AM

How much air is too much

by Mbshil

How do you handle the alarm by the IV pumps , when it says: Air in line. Some pumps let you advance it , others don't. I heard one RN say that if the bubble is the size of champagne bubble it will not harm the patient. I had a patient in a panic rip his IV out cause he saw a tiny bubble traveling up his IV line. He was in total panic and thought that once this bubble reaches his blood stream he would surely die.
ANybody have any thoughts and rational for me?

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7 Comments
No. 1
from Virgo_RN
Old Aug 30, 2009, 03:15 AM

Default Re: How much air is too much
Usually I'll just advance it, but if it's a large bubble, I'll either draw it out with a syringe or flick it up the tubing to the drip chamber.
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No. 2
from amandie24
Old Sep 10, 2009, 12:35 AM

Default Re: How much air is too much
A pulmonologist told me that it would take a 10cc filled with air to actually bring harm to a patient. I typically do the flicking to drip chamber when the alarm is going off or run a few cc's through the line.
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No. 3
from SarahBeth
Old Sep 18, 2009, 11:51 AM

Default Re: How much air is too much
I have been told with our new Alaris pumps you would need to have as much air to fill the IV tubing to cause an air embolism. I don't know how accurate this is and I'm not up for experimenting though. If I'm using a pump without a back prime feature I just disconnect and set the rate to 999 to reprime. Better to be safe than sorry.
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No. 4
from Darknights
Old Sep 26, 2009, 05:05 AM

Default Re: How much air is too much
I haven't looked this up since I was a student many years ago. I found several sources all agreed that the entire length of IV tubing would have to contain air AND it would have to be administered quickly to cause any problems. Patients freak out about seeing a bubble so you can now reassure them.
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No. 5
from Darknights
Old Sep 26, 2009, 05:09 AM

Default Re: How much air is too much
A quick search and the sources agree: "Rapid introduction of air into the venous circulation of greater than 300 to 500 cc at a rate of 100 cc/s is considered to be fatal."
What volume does an IV line hold?
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No. 6
from orangepink
Old Oct 03, 2009, 06:20 PM

Default Re: How much air is too much
a co-worker told me it's 100cc of air that makes it dangerous
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No. 7
from flightnurse2b
Old Oct 03, 2009, 06:27 PM

Default Re: How much air is too much
a doctor i used to work with told me it takes atleast 20ml injected directly of air atleast to cause any damage to the patient. i don't have any plans of seeing how accurate that is tho.

if it's a little bubble, i usually just flick it out. if it's larger, i will either try to draw it out, or disconnect and reprime the tubing.
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