Clearing lines for pump.

[OwlieO.O]

Okay, so I'm having a hard time trying to clear my lines of bubbles without wasting too much fluid when I'm setting up a pump. I wasn't told at first to invert the cassette, then figured it out with another student. Even then I still get these latent bubbles (even just one) and waste lots of fluid trying to expel them.

So how do I not waste so much fluid? I'm not worried about NS or something, but IV antibiotics or something that has to be exact and not wasting seems like a pain. I could back prime, but they get mad when I back prime. The only thing is if I back prime I can at least push the leftover med with a syringe pump or something.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Tap that bag of Vanco, Amiodarone or bottle of albumin to get the bubbles to float to the top and disintegrate on their own.

[OneDuckyRN]

I have found that if I fill the drip chamber about halfway before priming, it cuts the air bubble problem way down (close the roller clamp and squeeze the drip chamber a couple of times). This is true whether I'm priming primary or secondary tubing. We use the Alaris Medley/Carefusion pumps at my facility, so there really isn't a cartridge to invert.

[Julius Seizure]

I have found that if I fill the drip chamber about halfway before priming, it cuts the air bubble problem way down (close the roller clamp and squeeze the drip chamber a couple of times). This is true whether I'm priming primary or secondary tubing. We use the Alaris Medley/Carefusion pumps at my facility, so there really isn't a cartridge to invert.

I still have better luck inverting the part of the tubing that hooks into the pump. And going realllllllyyyyy slow.

[canigraduate]

Here's the best way to prime a primary line that I've found on a Plum:

1) Spike the bag with the white cassette thingy closed.

2) Squeeze the drip chamber until it's half full.

3) Invert the cassette and hold it just below the IV bag so it will run slowly.

4) Let out the white thingy.

5) Let it fill until you get the first drop into the round pump chamber.

6) Immediately drop the cassette right side up and raise the IV bag.

7) Don't take the end cap off and let it fill right up until the cap.

8) Slap the cassette into the pump.

Works like a charm, every time. If you get a lot of micro bubbles, just straighten the tubing and flick it. The bubbles will go upstream and you can remove them with a syringe, or it will go back into the drip chamber.

For the secondary line, it's pretty simple. Just spike it with the IV bag horizontal to the tubing, fill the drip chamber halfway, raise the IV bag, and let it flow. Leave the end cap on and the fluid won't run out. If you get too many bubbles, just hold the line up above the IV bag, let the fluid run back into the bag, and try again.

[OwlieO.O]

I have found that if I fill the drip chamber about halfway before priming, it cuts the air bubble problem way down (close the roller clamp and squeeze the drip chamber a couple of times). This is true whether I'm priming primary or secondary tubing. We use the Alaris Medley/Carefusion pumps at my facility, so there really isn't a cartridge to invert.

Interesting. Yeah, we always squeeze the drip chamber while the line is clamped. How does it work then with no cassette? I think my hospital is getting new pumps. I wonder if they'll be these.

[Nonyvole, BSN, RN]

Interesting. Yeah, we always squeeze the drip chamber while the line is clamped. How does it work then with no cassette? I think my hospital is getting new pumps. I wonder if they'll be these.

There's a stretch of tubing that's...stretchy. It goes into the pump and there are rollers inside to manage the drip rates. I prime them the same way as you prime. Fill the drip chamber halfway, invert the tubing until the fluid is past the part of the line that goes through the pump, and then flip that section back upright. They're nice pumps, if a little particular sometimes.