When you connect your patient, do you return your prime? Why or why not? How do you get your lab work so it isn't contaminated with saline?

Peace Out

we connect both arterial and venous w/initiation of dialysis.
we dump the prime if pt is overloaded w/ fluids
we draw labs from arterial
good luck

We use to dump our prime, draw labs from the arterial while the dumping was going on and then hook up the venous. Now we have a new manager who thinks after twenty years of doing it this way it is unsafe and we could hurt the patient so wee hook both up at the same time. Can the labs ever be accurate?????????????????

Although a clinical issue, a sure fire method for monthly blood sampling:
- Cannulate the client (arterial/venous)
- Now take your vacutainer hub, with a male adapter port applied.
- Make sure your fistula device is clamped.
_ Utilizing an aseptic technique, remove the cap off the end of the fistula and apply the vacutainer assembly, allowing for application of the vacutainers, thus obtaining samples for laboratory use.
- Now, remove the vacutainer assembly (make sure your clamped) and apply the correct heparin dosage (If Rx)

As for giving prime or not. Many years ago, Most companies did away with prime applications due to the liability issues. Many a dialysis provider, forgot to stop dumping the prime to the point of over-flowing the prime bucket and spilling the clients blood all over the floor. Worst case senerio, there are machines that have a venturi funnel in place of the prime bucket, these clients are potentail for masive blood loss, due to some bonehead. Therefore, your medical director has to make the call and provide a policy regarding this prime or no prime issue.

Lastely, adding the prime to the total volume to be removed, seems to work for the majority of the dialysis community.
Goodluck with all your endeavors.