Question about IVs

[Blackheartednurse]

Ok so my question are basically this;

1) Which method do you prefer back-priming piggybacks or just priming it the "traditional way" (filling chamber half way) Prons and cons of each?

2) When you arleady connected and primed the piggyback tubing and hang it above the primary line,do you leave the primary solution running at the same rate or you basically slow it it down,thank you......

[TigerGalLE, BSN, RN]

I usually back prime the piggy back by hanging it lower than the primary IVF. I feel it gets rid of the bubbles better doing it this way. I also don't make a mess by spilling that little bit of fluid from the piggy back on the floor.

I usually set my piggyback to run as a secondary and my primary fluid stays on hold until it is finished. That is unless it is an electrolyte that is running very slowly. I may run that concurrent with the primary fluids.

[OldnurseRN]

I sometimes prime my piggy-back by lowering the primary bag but only if the primary is saline. If it's D5 or LR, I don't. (LR and Rocephine are not compatible). I then program the pump for the piggy-back and when it's infused the primary starts again. If it's a solution incompatible I prime the line with the piggy-back, at the sink, and then connect to the pump.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I normally prime at the sink and never waste more than a drop. It is just easier.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I back prime. The primary stops while the piggyback is going in, so I don't need to do anything with the rate of the primary.

If the piggyback is incompatible with the primary, then I do not run it as a piggyback. I will either run it as a primary into a separate line, or will stop the primary, flush the line, then run the secondary med as a primary.