A client is admitted to the emergency department in status epilepticus. The healthcare provider prescribes a loading dose of phenytoin 1,000 mg intravenously STAT. The client has a single 20-gauge peripheral intravenous (IV) catheter, which is currently infusing a primary solution of 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W) at 100 mL/hr. Which sequence of actions by the nurse demonstrates safe administration of this medication?
- Pause the primary D5W infusion, flush the IV catheter with 0.9% sodium chloride, and administer the medication using an infusion pump over 20 minutes.Cevap
- BInject the medication via rapid IV push into the lowest Y-site of the primary D5W tubing to ensure immediate delivery to the central circulation.
- CStop the D5W infusion, flush the line with 0.9% sodium chloride, and manually administer the medication via IV push over 5 minutes.
- DRequest the pharmacy to dilute the medication in a 250 mL bag of 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W) and infuse it as a secondary piggyback over 45 minutes.
Cevap
The correct action is to pause the primary D5W infusion, thoroughly flush the intravenous catheter with 0.9% sodium chloride, and administer the phenytoin over at least 20 minutes.
Phenytoin is chemically incompatible with all dextrose-containing solutions and will immediately form a solid crystal precipitate if mixed. The nurse must pause the D5W and thoroughly flush the line with 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) before and after administration. Additionally, intravenous phenytoin carries a critical warning for severe hypotension and cardiac arrhythmias if administered too rapidly. The absolute maximum safe infusion rate is 50 mg/min. For a 1,000 mg loading dose, the minimum administration time must be calculated: 1,000 mg ÷ 50 mg/min = 20 minutes. The use of an electronic infusion pump ensures this safe rate is strictly maintained.
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Anahtar Kavram
Safe parenteral administration of phenytoin requires avoiding all dextrose-containing solutions due to chemical precipitation, and strictly limiting the intravenous infusion rate to a maximum of 50 mg/min to prevent cardiovascular toxicity.