Hello,
Does anyone run nitroglycerin or insulin through the tubing to "coat" the tubing first? This is if your hospital is not using the special polyethylene infusion set (indicated for NTG gtts) but rather using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) infusion sets. One article states that 57% of the medication (NTG) is absorbed into the tubing and does not reach the patient with resultant decreased effectiveness during initiation of therapy.
If you do this in your practice, can you tell me how much volume you waste before attaching to the patient? If you have a resource for this would you mind sharing?
Thank you,
Carole
Do you have the 3rd edition of the large INS textbook? If so, see page 404 for a discussion of this. I have not done a lit search on these issues since I wrote this chapter, but you could narrow your search to anything from 2008 forward. You could also contact the clinical department of the manufacturer of the sets you are using to see if they have any unpubllished data on this question that could be shared with you. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
I do not have that textbook but believe I will make the investment. I forgot about the manufacturer's info -- thanks.
Thank you,
Carole