IUPC's

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I have a question for ya'all :)

I'm working at a facility that has a protocol for their IUPC's that states prior to doing an amnioinfusion, the catheter must be primed with fluid prior to insertion. I have worked at 4 other facilities prior to this and have NEVER heard of such a thing, I have always just plugged in the fluid and started running it in if an amnioinfusion was required.

THey're saying if an IUPC is already in place and THEN an amnioinfusion needs to be started they must remove the cathter, and get another one, prime it, then re-insert it.

ALso curious to know what other IUPC protocols you have, regaring uterine tone, documentation, amnioinfusion, what time of fluid, is it warmed, how much fluid on a pump or not, etc?

Any resources you have for information regarding IUPC's would be great as well!

THanks!

SHelley

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I guess it might depend on what brand of IUPC you use. We do not have to prime the IUPC. If that were the case then physicians would have to start amnio infusions... placing IUPC's is out of the RN's scope of practice in our neck of the woods.

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I forgot to mention I'm mainly referring to transducer tipped IUPC's NOT balloon filled.

When I worked in California we did place them, but most of the places I've been at, we did not.

THanks for your insight.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

we usually use INTRANS....but one dr wants the fluid-filled, which HAS to be flushed and the fundus even w/the syringe set up---he SWEARS it is "much more accurate" but I hate the darn thing. we see MORE problems with this fluid-filled IUPC.

W/intrans, we do NOT have to flush.....no muss no fuss, it's easy. and yes, we nurses DO place them ourselves, once certified as capable. I find INTRANs easy to use and accurate myself.

as far as amnioinfusions go, we use NS or LR and no, we do NOT have to warm the fluid, unless dealing w/a preemie in utero. if so, we use a hotline blood warmer....also in a pinch, you CAN warm the IV bag and then tape the length of tubing to mom's leg to heat it up as fluid enters the uterus. few people know or think of this, but it WORKS!!!!. Upon initiation of amnioninfusion, we give a 250 cc bolus, followed by a 200cc/hr maintenance rate. we must document uterine resting tone, as well as u/c strength, q 15 minutes during the infusion also, we document fluid amounts color, odor, etc observed on pads.

hope this helps.:)

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