Carrybee

Wow very informative. Thanks for the information. I'm not sure what level Nicu this is but I was told some babies are vented.

This pump can deliver meds/antibiotics by a syringe via the secondary port. The issue of course is the 8 ml of dead space.

This particular co has an unwritten policy that they cannot replace syringe pumps. I can see how someone without a clinical background might not understand of the potential harm to a small baby. Having only worked with adults I had no idea that it might take 2-3 hrs for the baby to receive meds via a secondary port. It is just very surprising that this would not be a requirement - this is not the first Nicu that does not have syringe pumps.

Interesting story by one of the nurse instructors. A hospital transitioned to these new iv pumps. They had been using baxter iv pumps and Baxter syringe pumps. Following the implementation the hospital took away the syringe pumps. A neonatologist called this nurse to report issues with achieving therapeutic ab levels. The nurse had to tell him that the new iv pumps cannot replace the syringes. Fortunately the hospital reinstated the syringes.

Not sure why they didn't also purchase syringe pumps. They are less expensive and more accurate. The accuracy of these pumps drops from +_5% to +_ 10% if they are infusing at rates below 1 ml/hr.

I completely agree but unfortunately this hospital does not use syringe pumps. Just trying to guide them in the best direction to ensure therapeutic antibiotic levels. I thought perhaps some nicu's might allow slow iv push of antibiotics via the distal port?

But you infuse it this way to a Nicu baby that might only be 750 Grams?

Thanks.

Thank you! I am in the ccu and also work per diem for an iv company but have no previous experience in the Nicu. The question of how to deliver antibiotics came up in class. The length of this tubing is about 8 ml. I just wanted to know how hospitals without syringe pumps deliver antibiotics so that they can obtain therapeutic antibiotic levels while not fluid overloading the babies.

Hi! Can you hang a dextrose 10% 250 ml iv bag in the Nicu or does it need to be a smaller volume iv bag? Thank you!

Hi! Can you please tell me how you deliver iv antibiotics in the NICU if your hospital only uses large volume iv pumps (no syringe pumps)? Piggyback port? What is a typical rate? After infusing the antibiotic do you flush the line with additional flush to accommodate the dead space in the tubing? Thank you!