pH is around 12 so it is not recommended through a PIV. If you must
give a single dose through a PIV, use a 24 gauge catheter in the
largest vein possible. Preferably a site that is less than 24 hours
old. Assess site with at least a 10 ml saline flush. Good blood
return is mandatory. Slowly push the dilantin dose while frequently
assessing for a blood return. Flush with at least 10 ml saline after
the dose was given.
Some will have pharmacy admix it in a small volume of fluid, but I
have never worked where the pharmacy would allow this. We even
manually pushed loading doses of 1000 mg.
Through any type of central line, a brisk blood return is also
mandatory. Without this blood return, the catheter should be assessed
for functionality to determine the problem before dilantin is given.
This is a dangerous vesicant and it can extravasate from any type of
catheter including central lines. Lynn
At 12:03 PM -0500 2/2/06, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Hello everyone,
Sorry to bring this up again but our pharmacy is driving me crazy
with the cost
cutting measures they are instituting (some of which I feel are unsafe).
Can al of you briefly describe your protocol or procedure for
administration of
IV dilantin. In critical care and out on medsurg units?
Thanks!
Jose Delp
Clinical Coordinator
Upper Chesapeake Health
--
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RNC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
http://www.hadawayassociates.com
office 770-358-7861
