Additional info for IV paracetamol administration

Further to the clinical bulletin on IV paracetamol last month, please read some additional advice for administration.

• Give IV through giving set using one of the two ports.
• Only use one port, other port not needed.
• Give over 15 minutes.
• Do not use a venting needle as the plastic bottle is designed to collapse. Venting needles have a high risk of introducing air embolisms.
• You will have a residual amount of paracetamol within the giving set and this will need to be flushed through by attaching a 100ml sodium chloride 0.9% until the residual has gone.
• Beware of fluid volumes especially with children.
• Beware when changing fluids not to introduce air in to the giving set.  

Published 7th March 2015