Vancomycin IV push in the OR

nrw350 · Jun 13, 2002

What is that drug for? I mean is it, to maintained the anesthestized state the patient is in?

Thanks.

Nick

Sleepyeyes · Jun 13, 2002

I have never heard of giving Vanco IVP. I usually see it as 1 gm. in 250 ml of NS over a period of 2 hours or more IV piggyback.

Red man syndrome is a new one to me too. Would that be a rash?

nrw350 · Jun 13, 2002

Wha? What is a piggyback? lol. What is riding lol.

Nick

bassbird · Jun 13, 2002

Vancomycin IVP seems wrong to me too. I checked my drug guides and they say it should not be "administered rapidly or as a bolus, to minimize risk of thrombophlebitis, hypotension, and "red man (neck)" syndrome, etc.

I work in pharmacy, so I will ask our PharmD about this and let you know what he has to say. In my opinion, it doesn't sound safe.

Sleepyeyes · Jun 14, 2002

An IV Piggyback is a secondary bag of medicine linked to the main IV fluid.... for instance, if a pt has 1/2 NS at 50 cc/hr, you link the Vanco to the top of the line and that way the main IVF auto-flushes when the Vanco finishes.

live4today, RN · Jun 14, 2002

I've never heard of giving Vanco IVP either. Maybe they think they can get away with it more when the patient is still under anesthesia because the patient won't remember the "rush" from the redman's syndrome they would get, or the burning sensation in their veins from it being pushed so rapidly, or the drop in blood pressure that accompanies rapid administration of that drug as IVP methods tend to do. Whatever their rationale, it warrants an explanation. Have you followed the care of these patients after they come to and return to their hospital rooms before discharge and after to see if they've suffered any "ill effects" from the drug being given to them that way? Also, are the docs documenting that they have given Vanco IVP in the patients charts, or are they listing it as being given the usual piggyback route? Just curious. :)

Sleepyeyes · Jun 14, 2002

Hey, lookee what I found.... at http://nursing.about.com/library/1999/bldyk040302.htm?iam=dpile_1&terms=vancomycin+ivp

Hope the link works; if not, paste it in.

Did You Know...

...what causes red-man syndrome?

Red-man syndrome (RMS), also known as red-neck syndrome and red-person syndrome, is a non-allergic histamine reaction to the administration of Vancomycin. Vancomycin is a potent antibiotic that is used for prophylaxis against and treatment of serious gram-positive infections. It is usually administered IV, but can also be administered orally or into the peritoneum in peritoneal dialysis patients. (IM injection can cause tissue destruction.) It is not easily dialyzed, making it a good choice for hemodialysis patients, too.

RMS can occur in any patient receiving Vancomycin, but is most likely to occur in patients receiving it by IV infusion more quickly than the recommended infusion rate.

Symptoms include:

Chills and/or fever;

Fainting;

Tachycardia;

Hives & itching;

Hypotension;

Nausea or vomiting; and/or

Rash or redness of the face, base of neck, upper body, back, and arms.

In severe cases, symptoms may be severe enough to cause cardiovascular collapse and is a true medical emergency. Symptoms look like an allergic reaction, but can be distinguished from anaphylaxis by measurement of serum tryptase levels.

The University of Iowa's Virtual Hospital offers the following recommendations to reduce the risk of red-man syndrome:

Infuse doses of 1000 mg or less over at least sixty minutes;

Infuse doses greater than 1000 mg over at least 90 minutes;

Dilute 1000 mg doses in at least 250 ml of 5% dextrose in water for infusion in a peripheral vein;

Consider premedicating patients who have had RMS with prior infusions with an antihistamine and lengthen the infusion time to two hours.

Here's a continuing education article on red-man syndrome which includes an excellent case study and nursing interventions.

Sleepyeyes · Jun 14, 2002

Please note that in my earlier post, I thought Vanco was diluted in NS, but here it says it's diluted in D5W.

live4today, RN · Jun 14, 2002

Sounds like those docs and anethesiologists need to be reported for doing something totally unkosher - medically speaking. Hmmmm...don't you guys think? :confused:

bassbird · Jun 14, 2002

I asked our Director of Pharmacy about this at work today. He could see no reason to push Vancomycin. He also mentioned the "redman" syndrome right away.

I think if I were you I would let your supervisor know or even talk to pharmacy and get your hospitals policy from them.

nightingale, RN · Jun 14, 2002

And then there is the nephrotoxicity issue...

All this news is VERY scarry for patient safety. It definitely sounds like a patient advocacy issue.

B.