Heparin infusion use in IR

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Fri, 09/14/2018 - 13:01
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Maria Cumpston
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Joined: 06/20/2016 - 14:16
Heparin infusion use in IR

I discovered a workflow in our IR suite with heparin infusions that I am concerned with. The IR staff is priming a bag of diluted heparin through the pump, placing a needle on the end of the tubing, and injecting that needle back into the port of the bag. Then they run the pump at 999ml/hour and this set up is replaced every 24 hours. This provides them with a air free set up in the case of an emergent stroke.
Staff in the area state this is the only way they can guarantee an air free set up. I'm curious to see what other practices are out there.
Thanks -
Maria Cumpston, PharmD, CPPS
West Virginia University Medicine
Morgantown, WV

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