SubQ butterflys: How long can they be used for?

[saulgoodman]

hi there,

i work in a geriatric facility and was wondering how long could a subQ butterfly used for before they are changed? especially for palliative care patients who are on morphine.

thanks!

[jmgrn65, RN]

I have never heard of that, I would be interested in learning more.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

We change ours q 72 hours as long as the site is OK.

Site needs to be assessed q use for reddness, swelling, irritation, etc

jm - butterflies are great for morphine, diluaidid, scopolamine etc given to palliative pts. They get the drug, but don't have to be poked repeatedly.

[meadow85]

I think it depends on the your policy & procedures. I was told q72hrs as well. And of course you would assess it regularly like anything else.

[Straydandelion]

72 hours here also, and that was per facillity policy.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Do you mean IV butterflies?

[Fiona59]

No, sc butterflies (aka HDC if used for fluid). Rotate q 72 hours, sooner if they've gone bad.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

HDC

What does HDC stand for? Never heard of it and we use sq butterflies all the time!

[Fiona59]

HDC is used mainly in mainly in palliative care. If it's too hard to maintain or start an iv, the butterfly is inserted into a fleshy area usually abdomen or chest. The body is hydrated that way.

http://www.viha.ca/NR/rdonlyres/DFAD3614-B368-4D86-9206-C7C7B3D698F4/0/Dehydration.pdf

http://www.rgpc.ca/best/BPC%20-%20Hydration/Prevention%20of%20Dehyration%20and%20Hypodermolysis%202006.pdf

(

We very rarely see it in acute care, but it was not unusal in LTC.

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

We change q72h, unless needed before that.

Most often used (on my unit) for pts on daily heparin who will likely go home on it as well, or who will be inpatient long-term and need it for awhile.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

HDC = Hypodermoclysis or sometimes just called clysis. There are special set that can be used for this purpose (ie soft-set) and these are generally changed every 72 hours....if it is a low volume infusion you could push it to 4 days....again check your protocols.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

Thanks - we just call it clysis!