Lipids at night

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2013

It is in the home care setting you will see Lipids and a 3 in 1 mix hung at night In this setting it is usually to give the patient freedom during the day and increase their quality of life. In the hospital TPN and/or Lipids are often hung in the evening for a variety of reasons. It standardizes hang times, allows for am labs and practitioners to make changes in the formulation as needed and allows time for mixing and delivering the TPN and Lipids to the various patient areas. I know that some hospital systems have these mixed off site so there is an order cut off time if the MD wants to start it that day. Lipids (unless you have a 3 in 1) do not require mixing and can also be hung during the day and can be given peripherally (no central access is needed for Lipids alone)

Valhalla_RN · Nov 14, 2013

Our lipids are typically hung at 1600/1700 and infuse for 12 hours overnight. TPN itself is usually started at the same time as lipids. Our hospital has a special TPN pharmacy, and new orders must be received by 11 am or they are really unhappy. I think its a pharmacy staffing issue.

I have seen lipids started as late as 2000 when they are trying to do a TPN wean. TPN/lipids not running at all during the day, only overnight, to try and stimulate appetite for daytime meals.