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For years we were only allowed to use gravity to infuse blood, something about the red cells being macerated. However since we started using Gemini pumps quite a few years back (showing my age now lol) we always use pumps, using a blood giving tubing set. Sure is safer and easier.:)
P.S. Still giggling, kewl, at the option of sick and tired of these polls!
In our ER, we run blood by gravity. We're allowed to run it via pump if we want, but pumps are scarce-- we run everything via gravity except of course titrated gtts, heparin, etc. It's easier for me to just do gravity rather than run all over the ER looking for a pump. The floors HATE when we send up a pt with blood via gravity- but you should be watching that pt closely regardless, so....
I have always used a pump, even before there was blood tubing. Hb. always increased after a unit of blood despite everyones dire predictions all the RBC' s were going to rupture. I recall 20 years ago using a dial a flow when I couldn't find a pump.
And one of my pet peeves is a nurse who is "sure" it is better to let it run in by gravity and it is all in in forty minutes or .......... 5 hours later , the bag is still 1/2 full and they're whining.
I've seen my share of pt's in acute congestive heart failure because some lazy nurse was too lazy to go get a pump and her blood has infused in 30 minutes....these are the same one 's who infuse 2 units back to back, asap on 85 year olds....2 units in 3 hours... "but his hb WAS 8 !!!.........
kewlnurse
427 Posts
Does yor institution allow the use of pumps for transfusion, or do you have to hang it to gravity?