Blood administration

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Does anyone change blood tubing between each unit? I have read that there are a number of facilities that chage tubing every 2 units. How did they decide on 2 units...why not 3...I know in ED and OR that there are times that the "standard rules" do not apply. Any suggestions...

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We use the same primary tubing for all units of blood hung in a 24 hour period. We do change the secondary filter with each unit that is hung. This has been a recent change to our policy. Prior to that, we hung two units per tubing.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

We hang no more than 2 units per tubing.

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2 units of blood per tubing set, then we change the tubing. Something about increase risks of infection.

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We change our tubing q2units, but we flush between units (but not through the filter). It is the filter that needs to be changed not the tubing, but who wants to mess around changing filters (yucky biohazardy mess).

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Specializes in ICU.

Our new policy is to change tubing every 4 hours, or 4 units, whichever comes first.

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I change the tubing with each unit. To me, if the blood needs to be administered within four hours max -- then I don't want whatever is lingering in the tubing to contaminate the next unit of blood.

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Specializes in CVOR,CNOR,NEURO,TRAUMA,TRANSPLANTS.

In the OR we dont change the tubing at all it has its own lines and the blood is given through those lines until the blood is completed reguardless of unit counts. We run them through so fast it barely has time to warm up much less collect in the tubing.

Zoe

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Interesting question... you know I usually change the tubing with every administration..... unless it is a GI Bleeder and you just dont have the time to be changing it.....

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We change the tubing every two units.

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most people on our unit change with each unit (because they are slack and don't have the next unit waiting to hang when the first one runs out and they just throw away the tubing and flush the INT or restart the fluids that was hanging prior to starting the blood.

we can run 2 units with one tubing as long as the tubing does not hang for longer than 6 hrs.

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It's policy for us to change the tubing with each unit.

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