SubQ Heparin- air lock?

Nurses General Nursing

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I was taught in nursing school to put a small air lock or (air bubble) to lock SubQ Heparin into the subq tissue. I know it is the standard with Lovenox of course because of it's low molecular wt. I have researched it on the internet and seen articles that teach pt's to use the air lock method, although most do not add this step.

I asked several of the more experience nurses on my unit and almost half said they do, the other half gave me a scolding as a new nurse that that should never be done.

What do you do? Also, do you know of any reliable sources or articles that have the most updated info?

I have found a couple sites that reguard to using an airlock with subq Heparin, but I can't find why specifically it would be contraindicated.

The patient teaching sheet is from the UCDavis Health Systems website

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/cne/Health Education/PtHndOut/subQhep.pdf

The research article is from the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing website.

http://www.stti.iupui.edu/library/ojksn/articles/030001.pdf

Thanks,

Jennifer

0 Votes

Hello Jennifer82: I was also taught that and have always made it my practice and have very few bruised sites. Good luck w/your career.

I was taught in nursing school to put a small air lock or (air bubble) to lock SubQ Heparin into the subq tissue. I know it is the standard with Lovenox of course because of it's low molecular wt. I have researched it on the internet and seen articles that teach pt's to use the air lock method, although most do not add this step.

I asked several of the more experience nurses on my unit and almost half said they do, the other half gave me a scolding as a new nurse that that should never be done.

What do you do? Also, do you know of any reliable sources or articles that have the most updated info?

I have found a couple sites that reguard to using an airlock with subq Heparin, but I can't find why specifically it would be contraindicated.

The patient teaching sheet is from the UCDavis Health Systems website

www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/cne/Health Education/PtHndOut/subQhep.pdf

The research article is from the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing website.

www.stti.iupui.edu/library/ojksn/articles/030001.pdf

Thanks,

Jennifer

0 Votes

How does everyone else do it? I am really wanting to know since I am a new nurse and my supervisor really embarassed me and told me I was never supposed to give Heparin with an air lock. Anyone know, why or why not?

I was taught in nursing school to put a small air lock or (air bubble) to lock SubQ Heparin into the subq tissue. I know it is the standard with Lovenox of course because of it's low molecular wt. I have researched it on the internet and seen articles that teach pt's to use the air lock method, although most do not add this step.

I asked several of the more experience nurses on my unit and almost half said they do, the other half gave me a scolding as a new nurse that that should never be done.

What do you do? Also, do you know of any reliable sources or articles that have the most updated info?

I have found a couple sites that reguard to using an airlock with subq Heparin, but I can't find why specifically it would be contraindicated.

The patient teaching sheet is from the UCDavis Health Systems website

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/cne/Health Education/PtHndOut/subQhep.pdf

The research article is from the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing website.

http://www.stti.iupui.edu/library/ojksn/articles/030001.pdf

Thanks,

Jennifer

0 Votes
Hello Jennifer82: I was also taught that and have always made it my practice and have very few bruised sites. Good luck w/your career.

Thanks so much for in the info & encouragement! :)

Jennifer

0 Votes
Specializes in ER/PDN.

I wasn't taught the air-lock method but it makes sense. After all, you're supposed to put an airlock in Lovenox and it is in the same family.

Just a thought.

Melissa

0 Votes
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