We place 1.9F PICC catheters in our neonatal population and use them (as needed) for blood transfusions without any problems. Platelets have given us a little problem with clotting but this has been rare. They are infused using a pump and given over 2-3 hours. Please be aware our volumes are 10 - 20 ml which means we are a little kinder on the catheter than with a larger volume need.
Lis Young, RNC, BSN
Chair, NICU PICC Team
Tacoma General Hospital
-----Original Message-----
From: Jones Lucy - Austin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 'List Serve' (E-mail) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Fri, 4 Nov 2005 12:00:14 -0600
Subject: RE: Blood Administration
Our facility policy also allows us to transfuse via a 24 gauge (not on a pump). We routinely use 22 and 20 gauge, but the 18s sure are nice!
Lucy Jones, RN
PICC Services
St David's Medical Center
Austin, TX 512-370-4391
512-205-7177 pgr
SDHP Mission - "To provide exceptional care to EVERY patient EVERY day with a spirit of warmth, friendliness, and personal pride"
PICC Services
St David's Medical Center
Austin, TX 512-370-4391
512-205-7177 pgr
SDHP Mission - "To provide exceptional care to EVERY patient EVERY day with a spirit of warmth, friendliness, and personal pride"
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-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Donna J Gordon DJGORDON
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 7:30 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Blood AdministrationThe AABB Technical Manual states that you can safely administer all blood /blood products through as small as a 24 gauge catheter without damage to the cells. Obviously, you would not use a pressure bag on a 24 gauge catheter, and for rapid transfusion you would need a larger catheter. We give blood through whatever size catheter the patient has, or fit the catheter size to the size of the vein we can find to get into. I would never restart a good, within 96 hours, IV site just to get an 18 in for blood...Donna Gordon
