Blood transfusions, pump or gravity

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Blood tx, pump or gravity

    • 39
      We use a pump
    • 26
      We use gravity
    • 3
      I'm tired of these stupid polls, quit posting them
    • 1
      What is a blood transfusion?

55 members have participated

slkt

1 Post

For those of you using pumps for blood transfusions, what kind of pumps and tubing do you use. Can you use leukocyte removal filters with pumps? My clinic would like to use pumps but we're unsure whether our pumps would hemolyze the cells.

froghair

130 Posts

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....

ditto

LCRN

74 Posts

Hello,

In my facility in the MICU/SICU we use gravity and a pressure bag if necessary or the rapid infuser (1 unit in a little over 2.5 minutes !!!) but on the medical floors a pump must be used.

LCRN

Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.
For those of you using pumps for blood transfusions, what kind of pumps and tubing do you use. Can you use leukocyte removal filters with pumps? My clinic would like to use pumps but we're unsure whether our pumps would hemolyze the cells.

If you are concerned about this you can always ask your blood bank to order leukoreduced blood from the supplier. (Red Cross now leukoreduces all of its PRBC's as far as I know.) Then you won't need the filter, one problem solved :)

pugmum

242 Posts

In the last 2 months our policy has changed and we no longer run blood through pumps... the only exceptions are neonates and peds. The companies insist their pumps are safe, but we have been told that unless pumps are certified by blood services we cannot use them for other patients. It means even our pts with central lines have blood running by gravity.

It means we need to be much more vigilant which can be difficult on busy units, but there is no way around it.

HappyNurse2005, RN

1,640 Posts

Specializes in LDRP.

We use a pump. Of course, we use a pump for anything and everything.

We have Plum Pumps and blood tubing, and then we also have Alaris pumps, and blood tubing as well.

Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

We always use pumps. I wouldn't do it w/o one, but I am paranoid. :chuckle

Pumps now count the drops with a sensor, so there is no lysing of cells. The pumps are safer for patients because you have more accurate count and flow. Also, less chance of coagulation that requires priming (and don't tell me priming does not lyse cells!!). Once you have tried it you won't go back.

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