FFP off the pump?

Coming from an SICU where everything we give as far as blood products; PRBCs, FFP, and plasma, are all free-flowing. The only reason i've ever heard of putting blood on a pump was my previous experience in a smaller hospital. But, even there, only prbcs were transfused via pumps.

I used to work in a general ICU and we always ran FFP free flow, never on a pump. Some nurses would run platelets on a pump and some would free flow. Everyone always ran PRBCs on a pump. Now I work in a bigger hospital in the SICU, and at this hospital, everything is run free flow, even PRBCs. I was told that the rationale is the pump can lyse the cells.

We use Alaris pumps and typically give blood products on the pump

I've run continous FFP drips before, from 50-150cc/hr on a IV pump. This is mostly common in our pre-post liver transplants. But if I'm just transfusing regularly, like say 2 units, then I just run it in. No pump. You don't infuse Platlets on IV pump or pressure bag. It could damage the platlets.

Question, sometimes the FFP's or PRBC's wont run without a pressure bag even if the line flushes alright. Does this happen to you guys? What would you recommend trying?

Be sure the blood is high and the IV is low and that the IV isn't kinked if it's in the AC or something, really no reason why it shouldnt. If it's a perfectly patent IV that's 20g or greater I can't see why it wouldnt free flow if you have it high enough.

FFP and platelets have their own tubing and they are incompatible with our pump setup...so we just let them free flow.

Be sure the blood is high and the IV is low and that the IV isn't kinked if it's in the AC or something, really no reason why it shouldnt. If it's a perfectly patent IV that's 20g or greater I can't see why it wouldnt free flow if you have it high enough.

Thank you aCRNAhopeful, I haven't hang blood in a fee weeks but I believe it was a CVL that flushed with some resistance. But I'll try the hanging it higher and of course checkin that it flushes well before putting a pressure bag. Thanks again!