Although Surgilube® Surgical Lubricant comes in convenient single-use packets and a variety of other sizes to meet your needs in any setting, when you forget to order more or restock your stash, you could find yourself in a situation where you need some emergency lubricant to get the job done. We highly recommend that you locate some more Surgilube because it is the safest to use. Its high-viscosity formula and bacteriostatic properties make it safe and easy to use. However, there are some situations where you may find yourself unable to find more lubricant and the circumstances require emergency lubricant. Join us as we discuss some of the things that can and cannot be used as a lubricant.

As a caution, alternative lubricants should only be used to perform an emergency airway procedure or in the rectum. They should never be used for procedures that can wait or in cavities other than the nose or rectum.

Water

Water is not sterile, nor does it provide the lubrication that surgical lubricants do. However, in an emergency situation, water can prove useful in offering moisture when needed. For instance, if you are on a hike in the woods and need to insert a nasopharyngeal airway and you don’t happen to have a single-use packet of Surgilube, you can use some water if it is all you have on hand. As always, it is best to use the cleanest water possible. If you have sealed, sterile water, that would be ideal, and if not, then you can use another source. The last source you would want to use is one from a reusable bottle or ground water as these are riddled with pathogens.

Spit

Spit should be a last resort lubricant but is a viable option in an emergency situation. Whenever possible, you should use the patient’s spit and not your own. Spit is never the ideal lubricant but can be relatively safe when the patient’s own spit is used on a nasal airway. Never ever should spit be used to lubricate a foley catheter or tracheostomy care.

Blood

This recommendation was rumored to be taught as an emergency lubricant in a situation where medical help is nowhere near and the patient requires intervention. However, blood should never be used to lubricate anything. Not only does it pose the risk of infection and a reaction if introduced into the bloodstream of a patient whose blood type does not match the blood, but it can quickly clot and does not offer much of a lubricating property at all. Do not use blood as a lubricant in any situation.

When you are in a situation where you are using an alternate lubricant, it is important to stop and think about the necessity of both the procedure and the lubricant. If the patient is not in life-threatening danger and the procedure can wait until you are able to procure some sterile surgical lubricant, then wait.

At HR Pharmaceuticals, we are proud to offer the most sought-after surgical lubricant available on the market. Surgilube Surgical Lubricant is perfect for use in any scenario and is available in a variety of sizes and packaging. Stock all of your medical kits when you shop our entire product line today.