Forum topic

 I checked the website for the priming volume of one brand of IV sets that were between 105 to 120 inches in length. Priming volume ranged from 15 to 20 mL. For an intermittent medication infusion, this is an excessively long set and the residual volume would be as much as 40% of the drug dose. A shorter set or one with a smaller priming volume would have less residual in the tubing. If the fluid runs down from the drip chamber, to infuse the majority of the fluid, you will have a space with air in the tubing. When you connect the next dose to the same set, how will you safely remove this air? I do not like the idea of a manual syringe connected and flushed through the set - nursing time, risk of contamination from excessive manipulation, etc. I would recommend using a primary fluid carrier such as NS, piggybacking all intermittent meds to this primary set and allowing this saline to flush the tubing free of all medication. There would be a small amount left in the piggyback set, but these hold between 8 to 10 mLs so a third of this would equal roughly 3 to 6% of drug dose. This would be backprimed into the empty container, disconnected and discarded and the next dose attached. The primary set would be considered an intermittent set so it would have to be changed every 24 hours, could be costly, but I have seen other hospitals do it this way. Check your brand of IV sets for the priming volume and do the math for the actual percentage of drug you are talking about and determine what is the least risk and most benefit. Lynn