Saline Lockes vs. I.V. Bags

[Ridryder 911]

Thought it would be interesting to see what folks prefer or have access to. Of course we know we hang fluids on Trauma & Hypovelemic, Dehydrated patient. This is pertaining to medical calls

[MedFire]

Out here it really depends on which hospital your going to. All have there pet peeves. One hospital will want labs and access so we put on a well and flush, another will want a J loop for access no labs, and then the others will want no labs and a bag of NS hanging at KVO.

This is the problem with going to 6-7 different hospitals. They all want something different.

So its not really a personal preference.

[bikermedic]

we use both pretty much medic and situation dependent. The hospitals dont say much either way.

[ReD]

since we dont carry locks, all we can do is hang a bag, or no IV. i think having a saline lock would be very helpful and useful, to have access on Pts that dont need a bolus.

[Summit]

I almost always start a bag... habit. Then again most of my pt's that get an IV probably need fluids.

[Asysin2leads]

Personally, I like using a bag whenever I can because I don't like having to fiddle around with a flush after the meds. We still haven't graduated to a needleless system (heck, they've only been in place for like, 10 years, right?), so in my mind, the less sharps, the better. Plus it makes you look cooler when you have a bag hanging. Admit it.

[ERDoc]

In my neck of the woods, the crews can only start lines (no locks). They can draw bloods, but I have never seen one do it, and I don't think the nurses will take it.

[eenermed]

I'd have to say that it would depend on the situation. I personally like to place a lock first then a bag. If the patient is going to need pain control only, why waste the bag. Of course, each hospital has it's own preference, however, most of the docs would rather see a lock if fluids are not needed.

[rdenman26]

Over here in the UK we don't usually hang a bag of fluid unless the clinical situation requires fluids. Most of the time the line is caped and flushed. No idea what a saline lock is so cant comment on that

[Ridryder 911]

Basically a saline locke (formally known as a Heparin locke) is a small IV tubing with a port attached & clamp device, that attaches to the IV catheter. It is flushed with 3-10 ml of saline solution to prevent clottage.

Acess can be obtained to it any point.

Be safe,

Ridryder 911