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A patient on an intensive care unit was receiving both lidocaine (lignocaine, Xylocaine) and nitroglycerin infusions. When his nurse turned him on his side to auscultate his posterior breath sounds, she discovered that the needle attached to the nitroglyc¬erin piggyback line had been dislodged from the male adapter cap and was soaking the bed. The patient wasn't injured, but he wasn't receiving his nitroglycerin either. The nurse changed the needle and restarted the infusion.
When a patient is receiving piggybacked I.V. medications, take a few extra seconds to tape the needle in the Y-site cap or male adapter cap. This will help prevent the needle from coming loose and ensure that the patient receives his medication.