Although many drugs are compatible with heparin my practice has been that heparin infusion should be a dedicated line. I don't see any standards to support my thinking. We are doing education on heparin infusions, I want to be accurate following the evidence.
Thanks,
Allison
First it would depend on compatibiity between the drugs. Second, it depends on your infusion pump and how it manages secondary infusions. Does the primary automatically stop infusing while the secondary infuses? If so, can you override this function and infuse both simultaneously? The heparin should not be stopped but if both drugs are compatible, there is not reason why they should not be infused through the same VAD. Vessel preservation is paramount, so don't require 2 sites if they are not needed.
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