Back-priming secondary tubing to reuse it

MoopleRN · Jul 13, 2008

I don't have any EBP links for you but I can tell you my hospital's policy for piggy back tubing (or primary for that matter) is 3 days. We change tubing/label noting date of change/hour with expiration date/hour.

If a drug is incompatible, it still has tubing labeled q 3 days and must be changed/labeled. Piggys' label dates may, of course, be waaaay out of synch with the dates on maintenance tubing.

Guitar_Heroine · Jul 13, 2008

I'd be interested in this too. Our management is pushing for us to do this more rather than use different tubing for each abx but it makes me wonder. I don't know what exactly has been through that tubing or if the fluid sitting in it is the last thing infused or been backprimed with the primary fluid already...

GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN · Jul 13, 2008

I usually always use new tubing for atbx piggybacks, I find very few people maintain a closed system if multiple lines are hung, no end caps, sticking the end into a y-site-really my pet peeve. I'm not sure what the question is, usually there's a little left in the bag and the tubing is still primed, so what is the question about backpriming? If I have a secondary line that has gone dry and is still commected, I will backprime to reuse it, not if it has already been disconnected and swinging in the breeze

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2008

Backpriming is acceptable practice and the same standards that apply to primary tubing are acceptable as LONG AS the tubing is not disconnected during the entire time it is in use.If the nurse must disconnect for any reason then is needs to be intermittent tubing. Each health care organization can make their own policy about that. The times for primary tubing vary from 48-hours up to 96 hours). The majority of intermittent tubing changes are set at 24 hours. The reason for this is twofold. One b/c of frequent disconnection and reconnection and the other is b/c when tubing is just hanging around ,so to speak ,bacteria tend to grow faster. There is nothing wrong with the practice of backpriming,as long as it is done properly. In order to avoid physical and chemical incompatibilities you have to perform a good job with 2-3 good backprimes. Of course,since you are hanging this at a close injection port in the primary line you must make certain your medication and primary IVF is compatible. For instance,if you have bicarbonate in your primary IVF,most any abx will be incompatible. Are you concerned about the hang time or the practice in general . If you get specific about your concerns...I can direct you to some resources.