For pain consults and ad-hoc pain procedures on the floor, such as epidurals, create a NEW ad-hoc anesthesia record for the procedure.

Return the pump to the workroom when you're done with it.  If you're messy and irresponsible, admit this to Edwin, and then ask him to please get it for you.

Bring epidural pump and key back to anesthesia workroom.  Erase your name and number from the pump.  If for some reason you are unable to, please ask Edwin to pick up the pump.  WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THESE PUMPS.

Get an epidural pump from the anesthesia workroom.  We currently have only 2 pumps, however we are ordering more.  Make sure you have the clear yellow lockbox case, the pump, the AC cord, and the lockbox key.  There is a patient control button for each pump, however please leave in the black container in the workroom and DO NOT attach to the pump.  Having a patient control button on a pump where you are not allowing patient-controlled boluses will create confusion, and vice versa.  Until nursing education has occurred, the buttons create too many problems so please do not use them.

Fill in the *** blanks to complete your note. Be sure to include a neuro exam detailing the upper and lower levels of analgesia from the epidural, and description of the epidural site (clean, dry, etc.).

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Once you have placed the orders for the epidural infusion, ask the OR pharmacist for a premixed bag, or remove one from the OMNIcell under the patient’s name.  If you made a custom bag with the epidural builder, either the OR pharmacy or the main inpatient pharmacy will need to be contacted and they will make the bag for you.  They will bring the custom bag to you when it is ready.  If you are initially setting up the infusion outside of the OR, you will always need to call the main pharmacy to have them bring you the bag.

Note:  Until nursing education is up to speed with operating the Curlin pumps and changing bags/tubing, we anesthesiologists will continue to change the bags on our own.  Because the bags have narcotics, we need to waste any residual fluid and have this waste documented and cosigned with the nurse.  The sign out and wastage of epidural infusion bags can be done on the yellow narcotic sheet available on every nursing unit.  The nurse will log the waste amount, sign it, and then you will cosign.  In the future, when the nurses have been trained on bag changing, this will be performed by 2 nurses (bag sign out and wasting) just as it does with PCAs. Also remind the nurse to scan the new infusion bag, just as they would a PCA syringe refill.

If you are in the OR when you start the infusion, on your intra-op record, you can find the epidural mixture on the LD tab within Medications.  Select it, then chart the infusion starting a the rate you ordered, just as you would on L&D.

Make sure the clear yellow lockbox case is locked with the epidural key.  HOLD ONTO THE EPIDURAL KEY BY ATTACHING IT TO YOUR OWN KEYCHAIN, OR RETURN TO THE ANESTHESIA WORKROOM.

On the pump, write your name and contact info in the space provided so that nurses will know who to call if there is an emergency or the pump is malfunctioning.  Additionally, remember to put your contact info in the Nursing Instructions (free text instructions).

On "comments (F6)", click to add text.  Add with free text "For any epidural issues, call Dr. (Your Name) at (your phone number)."  This is important so the nurses know who to call for problems.

Don't lose the epidural pump key.  Keep it somewhere safe (on your keychain), or return it to the workroom if you're good at losing things.

If you are outside the OR (PACU, ICU, PCCU) when you start the infusion, have the nurse scan the infusion bag so it can be captured on the MAR for billing purposes. (When you start the infusion in the OR and chart the infusion on your anesthestic record, this automatically captures the infusion so you do not need to scan it)

With the order set now open, look under "Nursing" and click on the small blue text that says "Discontinue all neuraxial orders after epidural removal: Yes" underneath Neuraxial Management.  It should underline when you run your mouse over it. Click on it and type in the answers to the thee Prompt questions at the bottom with these answers in bold:

On the pump there is a dry-erase marker section where you will write your name and contact number clearly (use a dry-erase marker please).

Chose your epidural mixture. As on OB, there are pre-mixed bupivacaine and ropivacaine bags that are easy and fast to obtain from pharmacy.  Creating your own mixture on the Custom Builder can cause delays in obtaining your infusion bag since the pharmacy has to make it, not only the first time you hang it, but when you re-order it to change the bag in the future. You are free to do what you like, however because of the infrequency that pharmacy mixes epidural bags, there may be delays/issues with custom bags.

There are 2 epidural pumps are located in the Anesthesia Supply Room, they belong to us so it is your responsibility to get one for the patient, sign it out (there is an epidural pump binder) and return it to the supply room when finished.

When the new bag arrives, remove the old bag & tubing, record the amount infused and amount wasted with the nurse on the yellow narcotic sheet, and cosign it with the nurse.

Place your epidural, make sure to document “block start” and “block end” on the EPIC intraop record.  This is important for billing.

Items returned within 14 days of their original shipment date in same as new condition will be eligible for a full refund or store credit.

You are responsible for writing all pain or hypnotic medications for your epidural patients.  Surgeons pain orders will be ignored or removed by pharmacy. This is to avoid overlapping pain medications orders.

Contact the pharmacy staff and they will deliver the epidural bag by hand (if it contains narcotic).  Narcotics are hand delivered to the RN and signed for by the RN.

Once you have created an anesthesia record for epidural placement outside the OR, follow above steps 1-12 on "Epidural Placement, Documentation, & Orders (While in the OR)"

DONOT using the patient-controlled option of the pump.  With thoracic epidurals particularly, even a small bolus can cause severe hypotension, resulting in complications.  Simply do not attach the patient bolus button and make sure you enter "0" for Patient-controlled Bolus Dose and "0" for Lockout Interval on your orders.

For the remainder of the order set, select your Hypnotics or Pain medications (IV or PO).   Please tell your surgical team not to order pain medications and that YOU are responsible for all IV and/or PO pain/hypnotic medication orders while the epidural infusion is running,

Type in .CJNEPIDURALPROGRESSNOTE and select it for a note outline which includes patient data with recent vitals and pain levels.

If there is no epidural infusion, but an epidural catheter remains, there should be a note in the chart indicating existence of such catheter and what the plan is. PRN blousing by MD? Plan to remove catheter at a certain date/time? The MD should also address the timing of when the catheter is to be removed, since certain anticoagulants cannot be given prior to catheter removal (see anticoagulation guidelines).

Sometimes a 500mL volume bag may be required (for higher epidural infusion rates) so that the bag is able to run for 24hrs.  This requires using the Custom Builder.  Make sure to type in "500" in the bag volume section.  DO NOT type in the notes "make a 500mL bag" as the pharmacist may not see this.

It is essential that when filling out the Procedure note, for “Provider Requested Procedure” you write in“Thoracic (or Lumbar) Epidural per surgeon’s request”

It should now be checked.  (To add "Anesthesia Neuraxial Adult" order set to your favorites, just right-click on it, then select "Add to Favorites")

Ensure that the surgical team or internist writes for pain medications now that the epidural is d/c’d and you are no longer responsible for pain management.

For Patient-controlled Bolus Dose (mL): 0 (please DO NOT allow for PC boluses as this creates problems with nursing/pharmacy)

Epidural patients are only to go to the ICU or PCCU after recovery.  The education and staffing is inadequate on the wards to look after epidural patients immediately after epidural placement.

EVERY patient who has an epidural catheter placed (thoracic or lumbar) MUST GO TO THE ICU following the recovery room. So please ask PACU for an ICU bed as soon as you know the patient will have an epidural.