What it means
A small bag (often 50 to 250 mL) holding a dose of a drug such as an antibiotic, given over about 30 to 60 minutes. Its tubing connects to a port on the main ("primary") line, which then resumes once the piggyback is done. It is a form of intermittent infusion, unlike a continuous infusionkun-TIN-yoo-us in-FYOO-zhunAn IV fluid or drug given without stopping, at a steady rate, usually by an infusion pump.Full entry .
For the nurse
Check that the drug is compatible with the primary fluid, hang the piggyback bag higher than the primary bag, and set the secondary rate on the pump. Check the IV site before and during the infusion.
At a glance
| Also written | intravenous piggyback, IV piggyback |
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Related terms
IV
Intravenous: into a vein, or the tube placed in a vein to give fluids and drugs.
infusion
The slow delivery of a fluid or drug into the body, usually into a vein, over a period of time.
infusion pump
A machine that delivers IV fluid or medicine into the body at a set rate and amount.
continuous infusion
An IV fluid or drug given without stopping, at a steady rate, usually by an infusion pump.