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Thu, 01/18/2018 - 20:35

Elena Nelson Squires

Silver Hydrosol as an IV infusate

Our VAT is being asked to place PICC lines for patients being treated with "silver hydrosol" IV for lyme disease. I am aware that this is quasi-medicine at best. The provider's office sends the patient to us for the PICC line only. This treatment is not covered by insurance, and I would like more information, as I know that these patients spend a lot more money if I place a PICC, than if I could place a 8 or 10 cm midline instead. However, I can find ZERO information, nor can my pharmacist. Does anyone know why we are asked to place central access for these patients? I can take some educated guesses, but would rather know facts.

Thu, 01/18/2018 - 21:00

lynncrni

If neither your nor your

If neither your nor your pharmacist can find any information about this solution, I would expect the prescriber to provide all necessary information about it including dilution, rate of infusion, osmolarity, side effects, what to monitor etc. If the prescriber cannot or will not provide this, I would not accept this patient. You did not say what type of organization you work for - hospital, clinic, VAD insertion service? I would immediately get the risk management dept involved with ALL decisions about this. I am not familiar with this solution, but this is not the first time that unusual solutions like this have been given by the IV route with lots of controversy. In the 1970's we had a similar issue with a drug called Laetrile, made from apricot pits that metabolized to cyanide, I think. I refused to give it. Lynn

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI

Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.

PO Box 10

Milner, GA 30257

Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com

Office Phone 770-358-7861

Thu, 02/01/2018 - 23:05

(Reply to #2) #3

Elena Nelson Squires

Thanks, Lynn. I work at a

Thanks, Lynn. I work at a hospital, team lead for VAT. Our OPI dept gets an order for us to place a PICC, we do the procedure in the outpatient dept, and the provider gives the "medication" in his clinic. The whole process evokes ethical dilemma for us, as we are only placing the line used, but are aware that silver had not been proven to do anything positive when administered IV and can actually be a poison.

Fri, 02/02/2018 - 14:53

(Reply to #3) #4

lynncrni

I would take this to your

I would take this to your upper management and especially risk management. See what they have to say about your PICC insertion for this purpose.