BD Alaris™ neXus GP Volumetric Pump
Advanced Features
BDDF00558 Issue 5
38/72
Secondary (Piggyback) Infusions
Secondary (or piggyback) Infusion mode is only available if it has been configured .
The application of secondary infusions should be limited to the intermittent therapy of medications which are not
sensitive to the total time required to complete an infusion .
• Typically antibiotics may be infused using a secondary infusion, where the primary infusion is limited
to maintenance fluid. If intending to use the secondary infusion facility, the primary infusion should
be a maintenance fluid only and is not indicated for drug therapy.
• The application of secondary infusions for delivery of critical drugs, particularly those with a short half
life, is NOT indicated for use. These drugs should be administered through a dedicated pump channel.
• Dependent upon factors such as fluid viscosity, the secondary infusion rate, head height between
the secondary and primary fluid containers and the use of clamps, flow may occur from the primary
fluid container during a secondary infusion. This could result in drug remaining in the container at
the end of the secondary infusion, delaying its delivery for a period of time which is dependent upon
the primary infusion rate. For example, a secondary infusion of 250ml at 300ml/h could result in
approximately 33ml remaining, requiring up to 25 minutes additional time to complete the delivery,
assuming a primary infusion rate of 80ml/h (and the use of a 72213N-0006 secondary infusion set and
its supplied extension hook). Therefore it is recommended that flow sensors (if used) are disconnected
from the Pump during secondary infusions.
• Regular monitoring for unexpected primary flow is recommended. If flow from the primary fluid
container is not desired during secondary infusion and/or the patient is sensitive to fluid balance,
the clamp on the primary infusion set should be closed. Check that no drops fall in the primary drip
chamber.
• On completion of the primary infusion the Pump will continue at Keep Vein Open rate (KVO) rate.
Setting up a secondary infusion
1 . Ensure Primary infusion has been setup in ml/h (rate > 0ml/h) .
2 . Press
h
to put the Pump
ON HOLD
.
3 . Press
d
to access the
OPTIONS
screen .
4 . Select
SECONDARY SETUP
, press
OK
to confirm .
5 . Select either
ML/H
or
DRUGS A-Z
. Press
OK
to confirm either selection .
6 . Enter the secondary
RATE
using the
f
keys .
7 . Press
OK
to confirm .
8 . Set
VTBI
using the
f
keys (Refer to ‘Setting a VTBI’ section) .
9 . Press
OK
to confirm .
10 . Review
PRIMARY/SECONDARY
setup summary .
11 . If correct, press
OK
to continue, or
BACK
to adjust
VTBI
or
RATE
of the
SECONDARY
mode .
12 . Press
b
to start the infusion in secondary mode . An advisory screen will be displayed –
ENSURE SECONDARY INFUSION SET OPEN
.
13 . Press
OK
to start infusing at the displayed rate .
Setting up a subsequent secondary infusion:
On completion of the secondary VTBI, the Pump will automatically transition to the primary infusion, an audible beep will
be heard .
1 . Press
h
to place the primary infusion
ON HOLD
.
2 . Follow instructions 3 to 13 of ‘Setting up a secondary infusion’ .
