Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the stability of lipid particles in a lipid emulsion administered as a secondary piggyback infusion through primary TPN infusion line.
Methods: Gross-and-micro observation was performed, and the mean droplet size and large diameter tail (over 5 μm) were evaluated in a mixture of lipid emulsion and TPN fluid (supplemented with vitamins and minerals) administered at 100 mL/h, and in a lipid emulsion given by piggyback administration (at 100, 50, 33, 25, 20, and 17 mL/h) through TPN infusion line (at 100 mL/h).
Results: In the mixture, the mean particle size was not changed, but the volume of the large diameter tail increased after 2 h and exceeded the USP reference standard that percentage lipid over 5 μm should not exceed 0.05% of the total lipid. However, piggy administration of the lipid emulsion did not cause changes in the appearance, mean particle size of droplets, and extent of large diameter tails, enabling it to be kept under the reference value.
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that piggyback administration of lipid emulsion through primary TPN infusion line did not significantly change the mean particle size or coarsen the lipid particles, suggesting that the lipid emulsion meets the proposed USP standard and can be safely administered by this method.
