IV piggyback administration

[zen_seeker]

When a patient has multiple piggybacks ordered should you use a single secondary set, backflushing with the primary fluid for all piggybacks, assuming compatibility of fluids, or use a separate secondary line for each med? Would like to hear your thoughts on best practice.

[bosnanurse]

At our hospital we do use separate secundary lines for every med that we use. Of course you consult your books or pharmacy about compatibilities with main solution that is running adn if we need to use separate pump , label every line when needs to be changed (Q3 days) and when we started.It works fine.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I use a separate secondary line for each med. Save the cap by sticking it on the lever lock, and re-cap after it's done. It's cleaner, and you don't have to worry about med compatibility.

[meandragonbrett]

ummmmm. I always put everything on new tubing. That's how we deal with it. You hang a new bag/bottle of something....you hang it on new tubing.

[BBsAngel]

I always use a new tubing for each medication. Our policy is to change each tubing q72h. We recap using a new luer lock plug each time we disconnect. Syringe pump tubings however can be flushed with saline between different meds according to the representitive that came to our facility.

[USF RN BSN]

It would be interesting to do research on this. My main concern is for the 2 abx or meds that are incompatible and back flushing isn't effective to clear the line. What if we could do independent studies on iv tubing where the solution is aspirated from the secondary line after backflushing to determine whether the flush was sufficient. My facility our Pharm D's have differing opinions on this topic.

Anyone know of research done on this? We need find the origin of "that's what i've always done"

J m