Buretrol for safety in pediatrics

purplemania, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2004

we used to require them for children under 4 yr old, but they are practically obsolete now that pumps are made to not have free-flow. It is too expensive to use them when the pump is doing the work for you.

chip193 · Nov 22, 2004

I am looking for other hospitals guidelines on buretrol use. Are they required on everyone?

Our hospital requires them to be used on all patients under 12 y/o.

This, of course, is a pain when you're rehydrating a 10 y/o as the burette only holds 100 cc!

Chip

LEARN · Nov 22, 2004

I am looking for other hospitals guidelines on buretrol use. Are they required on everyone?

We no longer use buretrols and have not for a long time. We set the volume to be infused the same as the infusion rate This causes the IV pump (not free flow) to alarm every hour at which time we re-set the volume to be infused and inspect the IV site.

chip193 · Nov 23, 2004

We no longer use buretrols and have not for a long time. We set the volume to be infused the same as the infusion rate This causes the IV pump (not free flow) to alarm every hour at which time we re-set the volume to be infused and inspect the IV site.

That would require us to have enough pumps to do that! It's easier to get a day off than it is to get a pump most days!

Chip

purplemania, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2004

We use the Horizon pumps (B.Braun). Pedi started using them and now the whole hospital does. They use sensors to "see" the fluid passing thru the pump, so the tubing is not crimped. This means they are great for blood transfusions. As for other fluids, you can set the volume/time or rate, depending on what you want. Also, when hanging a piggyback it automatically rolls over to primary when the secondary finishes, so you don't have to monitor as closely and worry about losing a line due to coagulation. All these factors boil down to TIME which is money and that is what admin. understands. Also, fewer med errors.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Dec 8, 2004

we use them for basically everything, and they are all on pumps. we don't use them in the way they are actually intended though. they are basicallly to use the minimm concentration for iv meds. our meds come from pharmacy in a syringe, and we put it in the syringe with the amount of dilutent it needs. honestly, at least on my units, no one puts an hours worth of med and clamps it off (which is suppposed to be the idea).