Just curious--do you run TPN with Lipids? From prev. post.

[LizRN626]

Going off of a previous post I was just wondering what you do in this situation. I was always taught that Lipids can be hung with TPN in the same line as long as it is below the filter. However, in the drug book (the one I was looking at at least) says never do this. Just wondering what the concensous was....

[lady_jezebel]

Yes, we always run them together. The TPN solution (without lipids mixed in) are run through the line with the filter, and the lipids join that line between the filter & the central access port. It doesn't make sense that they can't be run together, for sometimes they are pre-mixed together in the pharmacy into one bag (depending on the MD order)!

[fergus51]

We do it in the NICU/

[ceecel.dee, MSN, RN]

Yes, we run them together.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Yep, always run them together, just make sure the lipids are plugged in below the filter and you should be fine.

We did have a little trouble with lipids kind of coagulating in the hyperal line sometimes - to solve this, we make sure not to plug the lipids into the actual hyperal IV tubing - we use double t-connectors and plug the end of the hyperal tubing and the end of the lipid tubing into that, then plug that into the patient's IV.

[unknown99, BSN, RN]

We run them together; the lipids are ran below the filter, in the lowest port of the tubing.

[CritterLover, BSN, RN]

always have run them together. i've worked at 10+ hospitals if you count as a student and as an rn; and i've worked with two different home infusion pharmacies in home health, and have never seen it done any other way (not to say that you couldn't run them separately, but why would you?). some hospitals i've been at have mixed it all together, others have sent the lipids in a little glass bottle, but they have always gone in through the same port in the central line.

also, according to ins (infusion nurse society) standards, which is the standard to which all nurses who practice infusion therapy are held accountable to, it is acceptable (and customary) to run them together.

what drug book was this? did they give a rationale?

[juliagulia1]

Yes, you can hang lipids with TPN as long as it is below the filter as it will clog otherwise. Best is to follow your hospitals policy. I've worked at 7 hospitals and we have always done it this way. Your drug book might just be conservative.