Coldfusion loop through a list of pairs name - value

Hello experts.
I'm using jquery serialize function in a form in a pop up window to store temporaly the values of name and value of a form in a hidden field (myhiddenfield) in my main form.
so my hidden field has a value like name_1=value_1&name_2=value_2&name_3=value_3
Submitting the form I'm taking the myhiddenfield value as a list with delimiter the & sign
<cfloop list="#myhiddenfield#" index="item" delimiters="&">
  <cfset firstcolumn =  listfirst(item,'=')>
  <cfset secondcolumn =  listlast(item,'=')>
</cfloop>

The problem i have is if there is not any value for a one key.
f.e.  name_1=&name_2=value_2&name_3=value_3
I get for the first list item the same value for firstcolumn and secondcolumn
For testing i tried the listgetat function like listGetAt(item,2,'=') and i get an error Invalid list index 2 because the listitem has one element.
I have a solution using the listlen function like:
<cfif listlen(item,'=') is 2>
    <cfset secondcolumn = listlast(item,'=')>
<cfelse>
    <cfset secondcolumn = ''>
</cfif>
but i need your opinion if there is another way to handle this.
Thank you in advance