IVIG Administration

We dont and probly wont ever do IVIG treatment on our unit. I think it would be better left in the large hospitals. Might try the Intravenous Therapy Specialty.

Hello,

I'm wondering if any nurses out there have or are using specific guidelines/policies for IVIG administration. I'm interested in rate increments and frequency of assessments and vital signs. Any info is helpful.

Thanks,

Cindy

Cindy - my unit does IVIG administration, but it has been a while since I have done it and I can not give you any info right now. You might want to do a goggle search for IVIG and see what comes up. Perhaps another M/S nurse will be on and can add some wisdom to this thread. Good luck.

Is IVIG the same as IGg? If so, we treat it like blood.

Hello,

I'm wondering if any nurses out there have or are using specific guidelines/policies for IVIG administration. I'm interested in rate increments and frequency of assessments and vital signs. Any info is helpful.

Thanks,

Cindy

Recently had a patient receiving IVIG. Increments fo administration at our hospital are:

start infusion at 54cc/hr x 15-30 minutes

then if tolerating well (no side effects) increase to 108cc/hr x 15-30 minutes

if still tolerating increase to 210cc/hr x 15-30 minutes

then finally 320cc/hr

Treated very much like blood as far as assessments go. Hope this helps.

I know I'm bringing up an old thread, but I'm wondering if anyone has anything more to add regarding infusing IVIG. My pt had an IVIG infusion order today, but by the time I left work this evening it still hadn't come up from pharmacy. Whether night shift runs it or not, my pt still has an order for the drip daily, so that means I need to transfuse tomorrow.

How often do you monitor, what meds/equipment do you have on hand, etc.??

This is what we do on our unit for IVIG admin

- dilantin filter

- turn the iv pump sideways to minimize bubbles (we get ours supplied in glass bottles) if you get glass bottles up try not minimize the movement of it - otherwise you'll be in the room forever expelling bubbles

- Y port with D5 incase of reaction etc.

- preinfusion vitals, 15mins post then 30mins then q1h for the remainder of infusion

- do checks/verifications as if it was a blood product

- initiate infusion at 65cc/hr for the first 15 mins then increase to a max of 125cc/hr as tolerated

Hope that helps!