**ALWAYS establish patent IV access and flush PRIOR to mixing medication**
Pharmacy specific orders / instructions always supersede the Agency guidance provided below. If in doubt, do not guess, call our office, or tag @TeamHelp-CareCoordination and ask for Clinical Support.
ALWAYS establish IV access prior to mixing any meds
ALWAYS make sure you have everything you need to complete infusion before you begin
ALWAYS confirm your medication dose against the medication label and orders
ALWAYS reach out to us first (not the Pharmacy) with any questions
NEVER tell a Pt you have not given a particular medication before
MIXING
*Identical Dosing and Administration as Remicade *
Obtain a clear/clean space to prepare your bag of Avsola.
Pharmacy will provide syringes and needles to prepare medication. Be sure all the necessary supplies are available to complete infusion from beginning to end.Â
You will need IV start supplies, syringe, needle, and sterile water for reconstitution, bag of NS, tubing (gravity tubing or pump tubing if using a pump).
Reconstitute each 100mg vial with 10ml of Sterile Water (pharmacy has to approve mixing with Normal Saline).
Swirl gently to mix.
Allow to stand for 5 minutes to reconstitute.
Determine the volume of Avsola to be infused. Remove and discard that volume of saline from the saline bag.
For example, if the ordered dose of Remicade is equivalent to 40mL, then remove 40mL of saline from bag.
**Please read the label on the Saline bag very carefully to confirm if the volume equal to the dose needs to be removed. Some Pharmacists will remove the volume beforehand.
Add Avsola to Normal Saline bag and mix gently.
ADMINISTRATION
Take baseline vitals and document basic assessment.
Must use IV tubing with an in-line, sterile, non-pyrogenic, low protein-binding filter (pore size of 1.2 µm or less)
Spike the bag of Remicade & set med up on pump to infuse over 2 hours at 125ml/hr unless the orders specify titration rates.
Monitor patient for any adverse reactions. Take vitals one hour into infusion and record.
Record vitals every 15 minutes for the 1st hour, then hourly thereafter AND 5-10 minutes post infusion.
Record lot numbers and expiration dates for vials used.
Disconnect patient, flush line, and remove IV. Place pressure bandage at site.Â
Clean and dispose of used supplies.