drugs w/ blood?

NeosynephRN · Jun 18, 2008

I would think in everyday use you would not give meds in a blood line...however when you are in a code and have no other access I would think all bets are off.

MassED, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2008

I agree with you - or stop the blood briefly to give the med (if it's a push)... which is what I've done... but I'd likely start another line at that point.

NFB2008 · Jun 18, 2008

At the hospital where I had most of my clinicals, they just pretty recently started allowing blood to be run with morphine PCA. This has been within the last year, I think. And it's only morphine that is allowed to be run with blood there.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2008

however when you are in a code and have no other access I would think all bets are off.

:yeahthat:

An ER doc I really like has a saying: "This is the ER. This is a code. Any port in a storm".

Simple. Succinct. To the point.

One of the many reasons we love him :)

cheers,

suzanne4, RN · Jun 19, 2008

If it is a code situation, it means that the patient is going to be dead if something is not done; then you do it. This is what is called an emergency, does not become any more of an emergency than that.

Same way that is the patient only has dialysis access, you can use it during a code, you do not need to worry about saving it, if they do not survive the code, then there is not going to be any more dialysis.

Simple as that.

MassED, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2008

If it is a code situation, it means that the patient is going to be dead if something is not done; then you do it. This is what is called an emergency, does not become any more of an emergency than that.
Same way that is the patient only has dialysis access, you can use it during a code, you do not need to worry about saving it, if they do not survive the code, then there is not going to be any more dialysis.
Simple as that.

GOOD POINT! MANY PEOLPLE SAY "I CAN'T ACCESS A H/D CATH" BUT IF THEY'RE DYING, WHY WOULD SOMEONE SAY THIS??????????? IT'S ACCESS!!!!

bill4745, RN · Jun 20, 2008

When you give a drug into a vein, you are puting it directly in to blood. Why is mixing it with blood in tubing a few inches from the IV site any different?

MassED, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2008

When you give a drug into a vein, you are puting it directly in to blood. Why is mixing it with blood in tubing a few inches from the IV site any different?

that's a great question.....

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2008

that's a great question.....

Ooh! I asked this one earlier. Apparently blood from the blood bank is qualitatively different from circulating blood. They add things to it, certain factors break down with storage and refrigeration, etc. Once it gets into the body it's so diluted with "regular" blood that it's not a problem, but in the same line it's not so good.

scattycarrot, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2008

When you give a drug into a vein, you are puting it directly in to blood. Why is mixing it with blood in tubing a few inches from the IV site any different?

As a pp said, there is a difference between blood in a line and blood in the bloodstream. When we transfuse we are giving packed RBC's not blood as it is in the bloodstream. Whole blood transfusions are rarely given and contain RBC, plasma and plasma proteins. Packed RBC's are a concentrated product and administration of products other than NS with the packed RBC can cause hemolysis and clumping. So, go ahead and use that line, just stop the blood and flush first with NS and again after before restarting the blood. And, if its a code situation you should be flushing with 20mls ns after giving meds anyway.

Larry77, RN · Jun 22, 2008

Done it many times in codes/trauma's never had a problem...in an extended time period I would start a third line. Would not be helpful to the "sick" patient to stop the blood even for a short time.