Unit 3 - Parental Nutrition 4

Question 1

What are flush techniques?

Answer 1

PN administration
Stop PN delivery
Flush delivery line with neutral solution
Restart PN delivery

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of flush techniques?

Answer 2

Increased risk of contamination
Fluid and electrolyte load benefits lost
PN administration rate altered

Question 3

What is a piggy-back method of adding drugs to parenteral nutrition?

Answer 3

Stability of drug in neutral solution and in PN admixture

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of the piggy-back method?

Answer 4

Risk of contamination
Rates of infusion
Length of co-mixed infusion

Question 5

What is the advantage of drug addition to parenteral nutrition?

Answer 5

Controlled addition under aseptic conditions in pharmacy

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of drug addition to parenteral nutrition?

Answer 6

Storage/contact times longer
No independent control of delivery rates of PN and drug
Problems with patients with constantly changing formulations
- wastage