Alaris Pump Roller Clamp

[deeterdey]

We have had the Alaris pump nearly two years and have noticed a disturbing trend of events regarding failure to unclamp the roller clamp for secondary infusion. I wondered if this is a common theme for this pump or an issue in my institution. thank you for your feedback.

[thebeccalc, BSN, RN]

We have Alaris pumps at my facility as well, and I've seen this happen a LOT. I was having a hard time remembering to unclamp piggybacks as well so now, when I hang a secondary, I always back prime the tubing so it's already unclamped when I set the pump. It's been a lifesaver.

[RNKPCE]

It's not a pump problem. It is a user error. Gravity, having the piggyback hang higher than the primary and having the roller clamp open it what causes the secondary to run. I make sure after I hang a piggyback and open the clamp that I watch it actually drip.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I hang the primary infusion bag on the hanger provided in the secondary tubing pack, "close" the roller clamp on the secondary tubing, spike the secondary bag, attach the secondary tubing to the primary line, hold the secondary bag lower than the primary bag, open the roller clamp and back prime the secondary line, and then hang the secondary bag on the pole above the level of the primary bag. That way I know that my secondary bag is higher than the primary bag and the roller clamp is open. I then program my secondary in the pump, and it runs from there.

As mentioned by a PP, if the roller clamp is closed on the secondary, it is not the pump...it is the user who forgets to open it. And, yes, as a user there have been instances I have forgotten to open it, so for that hour, it is still the primary running, and the PB does not go in at all.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

The pump tells the user to verify that the clamp is open.