DEHP and Lipid tubing - does your NICU hve a policy?

Specialties NICU

Published

For a number of years we have used only non-DEHP tubing for Intralipids in the NICU (probably since the 2002 FDA notification http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/dehp.html ) .

Our facility has suddenly stopped carrying non-DEHP Lipid tubing. Should I be concerned? The "Powers That Be" in my facility have a history of not understanding the unique needs of neonates and I know our manager wasn't consulted on this change.

I can't find any info more recent than the 2002 FDA notification and we are currently without a Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Does your NICU have a policy?

Thanks,

Nell

Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

Interestingly enough we just recently started using non-DEHP tubing in the last year. We got a few new Neo's who questioned why we were still using tubing with DEHP. We started using the non-DEHP tubing and hated it (always accumulating bubbles and pumps alarming). We wanted to go back to the old tubing and the Neo explained that he felt this was a bad idea as there was no way we could justify using the DEHP tubing were we (as a unit) be called to testify however many years from now (if a child claimed injury).

But our unit policy is to use non-DEHP tubing for all IV infusions, not just lipids.

Specializes in NICU.

What is this all about?!?! I have never heard of this. I don't know what kind of tubing we use, and I'm going to have to check it out when I go back to work tonight. Will it say on the tubing package? We have Horizon brand pumps and use tubing (I think Baxter brand) that is made specifically for them.

What is DEHP and how does it relate to neonates? :confused:

Thanks for the info, Tiffy.

Gompers:

DEHP makes plastic softer & more flexible. It leaches out of the tubing and into solution, particularly those with Lipids. Infants get a much higher dose of DEHP in proportion to their body weight.

It "has produced a range of adverse effects in laboratory animals, but of greatest concern are effects on the development of the male reproductive system and production of normal sperm in young animals."

It hasn't been proven to cause harm in humans, but it hasn't been proven harmless either.

See the link above.

nell

Specializes in NICU.

we use the same tubing we use for everything else - duovent, I want to say?

We got our non-DEHP lipid tubing back.

While looking for info on DEHP I found this article that might be of interest to some of you. It's from the Jan/Feb issue of Pediatric Nursing:

http://www.h2e-online.org/docs/pediatricnursing11506.pdf

nell

Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

I'm not sure. But I see you are from California...your state seems to have warnings out before anyone else. Heck, I even saw signs at Disneyland that said things there contained carcinogens LOL. Interesting article.

+ Add a Comment