TPN Tubing Change

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How frequently is your tubing changed for TPN? If you change it every 24 hours, is your lipids mixed in with the TPN? We currently change our tubing every 72 hours. The lipids are separate and we change that tubing every 24 hours. Thanks for your input!

Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

q24 hours at my home hospital, bags and lines

My clinical hosp that I was just at would allow q72 changes if no lipids and it was a bag that wasn't messed with by pharm. (like plain d10W)

As soon as it has a pharm additive though, it's q24 for everything.

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We run TPN and Lipids through different infusion sets.....y-site them. Can't run the lipids through the TPN filter because it is a small micron filter...filters out the large lipids. Lipids can be filtered, but it is a larger micron filter designed especially for lipids. Infusion sets for lipids are changed with each bag...you have to d/c the set when the lipids are infused. TPN infusion sets are changed q 24 hours.

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There is nothing wrong with lipids and TPN running thru the same line. Connect the lipids to the TPN line below the filter. Lipids are too large to got thru the filter.

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Specializes in NICU,Mother-Baby,Gyn,Massage.

TPN tubing changed every 72hrs, unless drastic glucose, protein or lyte concentration changes which warrants tubing change with that TPN. TPN tubing may need to be changed sooner when/if high glucose or calcium clogs the filter. Lipid tubing is changed every 24hr when new lipids are hung. TPN/IL is hung under sterile technique if infusing via central or PICC lines. This has been my experience at 2 different NICU's.

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Specializes in NICU.

POLICY is all TPN and IL tubing changed q24, but reality is IL changed q24 and TPN changed depending on flow rate - 10cc/h is changed q72. They're drilling into all us new orientees (yay!) that we better do it q24.

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Everything is changed q 24 in my unit, except for the premixed bags. I understand there is an issue with lipid breaking down the plastic tubing if allowed to hang to long, so it's a q 24 hour change also.

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