Tag: Iv piggyback

Over 60% of hospitalized patients receive some form of intravenous (IV) therapy, and for many, this includes the intravenous piggyback route of administration. This method is primarily used to deliver intermittent doses of medication via an existing IV line, without requiring a separate access point for each dose.

An IV piggyback, also known as an IVPB or secondary infusion, is a common method of administering medication through an intravenous (IV) line, frequently used in clinical practice when multiple medications need to be delivered via the same access point. The primary purpose of piggyback infusion is to allow for intermittent drug delivery without disrupting a patient's existing primary IV fluid and to ensure full medication dosage administration.

Studies show that intravenous medication administrations have a high rate of error, with some estimates suggesting nearly 70% involve at least one clinical error. To mitigate these risks, healthcare professionals employ specific procedures like the IV piggyback. **What is the piggyback rule?** It's a principle of intravenous therapy that ensures a secondary medication infuses first by hanging it physically higher than the primary IV bag.

Approximately 80% of hospitalized patients receive some form of IV therapy, making it a cornerstone of modern medicine [1.2.1]. A common question is, **how much liquid does an IV bag hold?** The answer depends entirely on the treatment goal, from small medication doses to large-volume hydration.