If a TPN bag was spiked this morning but then stopped before the patient went to surgery, can that bag be restarted later today as long as the bag doesn’t hang for more than 24 hours?
I am presuming that the bag was disconnected from the patient during the surgery, so that means the line was broken!! I certainly wouldnt think the saving of a $200 feed would balance against the possibility of infection.. and $5k of added ABx etc. the loss of a line, and access... thats my 2c worth, as I wouldnt want it
My first question is why is the TPN being stopped for surgery. This could cause problems with maintaining blood glucose levels. Anesthesia should not be using the same lumen as the TPN for their drugs as this lumen should only be reserved for the TPN. So I think stopping it is a huge mistake. To use the bag and administration set after surger would depend upon how it is protected while it is not connected to the patient. Was the male luer end of the set covered correctly with a dead end sterile cap? Was it left undisturbed during the entire time the patient was away? Is the patient returning to the same room or will this container need to be taken to another room? What are your policies about matching this bag back to the same patient? I do not see any difference between the bag hanging and not infusing vs hanging and infusing for the same 24 hours. The issues are how the set, especially the male tip, is protected while it is not infusing. But I still strongly believe that stopping it is a huge mistake. Lynn
I am presuming that the bag was disconnected from the patient during the surgery, so that means the line was broken!! I certainly wouldnt think the saving of a $200 feed would balance against the possibility of infection.. and $5k of added ABx etc. the loss of a line, and access... thats my 2c worth, as I wouldnt want it
My first question is why is the TPN being stopped for surgery. This could cause problems with maintaining blood glucose levels. Anesthesia should not be using the same lumen as the TPN for their drugs as this lumen should only be reserved for the TPN. So I think stopping it is a huge mistake. To use the bag and administration set after surger would depend upon how it is protected while it is not connected to the patient. Was the male luer end of the set covered correctly with a dead end sterile cap? Was it left undisturbed during the entire time the patient was away? Is the patient returning to the same room or will this container need to be taken to another room? What are your policies about matching this bag back to the same patient? I do not see any difference between the bag hanging and not infusing vs hanging and infusing for the same 24 hours. The issues are how the set, especially the male tip, is protected while it is not infusing. But I still strongly believe that stopping it is a huge mistake. 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