IV? primary bottle drips after PB starts

[psychnurse1998]

I have an IV setup at home. I connected my IV mini bag to port farthest away from patient, or piggy back port..(has one way check valve.) Raised mini bag more than one foot higher than primary bag. The primary is suppose to stop dripping when mini bag starts but it doesnt...what could i be doing wrong? This is my first time hooking up iv tubing.

[yoginurse2b]

Is it piggyback locked?

[psychnurse1998]

Is it piggyback locked?

I am new to IV's dont what you mean, ..is it piggyback locked?

[yoginurse2b]

I meant is the stopper on? Maybe you should turn it on?

[psychnurse1998]

I meant is the stopper on? Maybe you should turn it on?

I am laughing at myself...reminds me of when I first turn my computer on..didnt know what the task bar was. I dont have a clue what the stopper is. It seems like each drip chamber has what looks like a stopper. I have both of them closed. Where on the tubing is the STOPPER?

I was told that when mini bag starts dripping the primary too keep open bag should stop dripping. My primary bag keeps dripping.

[yoginurse2b]

OK I'm sorry, I meant the flow control clamp. Both clamps should be "on" and not locked. If your piggyback clamp is locked, your primary will resume dripping.

Hope this helps.

[psychnurse1998]

OK I'm sorry, I meant the flow control clamp. Both clamps should be "on" and not locked. If your piggyback clamp is locked, your primary will resume dripping.

Hope this helps.

yes they are both on..I start with a slow drip on the primary.. I raised mini bag, than started that at a faster rate, but the main bag keeps dripping. I am thinking one way valve may be stuck.

[yoginurse2b]

Sorry I don't have a clue. Hopefully someone else can help you.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

is this by gravity or pump?

[psychnurse1998]

is this by gravity or pump?

Gravity feed.. its a skill kit I ordered thru school.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Sometimes the one-way valve that is in the main IV line between the drip chamber and the Y-connector where you plug in the piggyback is kind of "frozen" and not working properly. Give it a snapping thump with your fingers a couple of times to help it loosen up and see if that doesn't solve the problem. The other thing I used to do when this happened is clamp off the main IV line between the drip chamber and the Y-connector where the piggyback is plugged in with a pair of hemostats for a few minutes until the piggyback gets going, take off the hemostats and see if that resolved the problem.

[psychnurse1998]

Sometimes the one-way valve that is in the main IV line between the drip chamber and the Y-connector where you plug in the piggyback is kind of "frozen" and not working properly. Give it a snapping thump with your fingers a couple of times to help it loosen up and see if that doesn't solve the problem. The other thing I used to do when this happened is clamp off the main IV line between the drip chamber and the Y-connector where the piggyback is plugged in with a pair of hemostats for a few minutes until the piggyback gets going, take off the hemostats and see if that resolved the problem.

That makes sense Daytonite..I will give that a try this am..