Could someone please explain to me why some patients "taste" saline when the vascular access device is flushed? This only happens with PICCs or CVCs. And is not associated with migration or occlusion problems.
This has been a complaint from patients for many many years. It is not associated with one specific brand of syringe. I have never been able to find an anatomical or physiological reason to explain it. Lynn
It seems to only be the prefilled syringes that cause this. I was told once that it is something that is picked up in the sterilization process. (kinda scary). The stuff actually tastes nasty. Curiosity made me put some on my tongue and it is not just a simple salt solution.
Darilyn
Darilyn Cole, RN, CRNI, VA-BC
PICC Team Mercy General Hospital Sacramento, CA
I have patients who either taste or smell or both. One did so bad it made her terribly nauseous. I had to write flush orders to draw flushes from the small single use bottles of normal saline for that pt. It doesn't seem to matter whether it is a PICC or a PIV except that the sensation seems to be worse with a PICC. I flush with 10 ml when I start a PIV so my guess it is the speed/concentration at which it gets to the spot that sends the sensation to the brain.
In the times I have had PIVs it falls somewhere between a taste and a smell and is gone so fast that I can't decide.
Our NS prefilled syringes do not have preservatives. So the only thing that I can think of is that it could possibly be something that is picked up from the syringe itself when the syringe and saline go through the sterilization process. I don't know what "plastic" syringes are made from but it appears to look different from the "plastic" the NS bottles are made from. Please remember I am using the term "plastic" very generically as I have no idea what to call those materials.
We have this happen especially to oncology patients to the point of making some of the feel like throwing up. We have been told that is from the saline leaching plastic from the syringe. A great solution which helps is to draw up saline for those patients from a vial and interestingly enough this off taste issue does not happen. Patients are so appreciative. Thank You
Jackie Tropp
NorthShore University Health system-Evanston
This has been a complaint from patients for many many years. It is not associated with one specific brand of syringe. I have never been able to find an anatomical or physiological reason to explain it. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Thank you Lynn - as always you are SO fast in your responses!
Laura Lenihan, RN
Clinical Specialty Coordinator
Henry Ford Home Health Care
(313) 874-6572
fax (313) 874-6501
I have had patients tell me they smell the saline too. They describe it as metallic or salty.
S Gordon MSN, RN, CRNI, VA-BC
Legacy Health
Portland
S Gordon
I also have no idea WHY, but have had many patients mention it...with all types of VADs....odd.
Some say that it's salty, some say they "taste" the disinfectant ("alcoholy") and others said they "taste the preservatives".
Keely
Keely Ralston RN-BC, VA-BC, CPUI, RCIS
It seems to only be the prefilled syringes that cause this. I was told once that it is something that is picked up in the sterilization process. (kinda scary). The stuff actually tastes nasty. Curiosity made me put some on my tongue and it is not just a simple salt solution.
Darilyn
Darilyn Cole, RN, CRNI, VA-BC
PICC Team Mercy General Hospital Sacramento, CA
I have patients who either taste or smell or both. One did so bad it made her terribly nauseous. I had to write flush orders to draw flushes from the small single use bottles of normal saline for that pt. It doesn't seem to matter whether it is a PICC or a PIV except that the sensation seems to be worse with a PICC. I flush with 10 ml when I start a PIV so my guess it is the speed/concentration at which it gets to the spot that sends the sensation to the brain.
In the times I have had PIVs it falls somewhere between a taste and a smell and is gone so fast that I can't decide.
Our NS prefilled syringes do not have preservatives. So the only thing that I can think of is that it could possibly be something that is picked up from the syringe itself when the syringe and saline go through the sterilization process. I don't know what "plastic" syringes are made from but it appears to look different from the "plastic" the NS bottles are made from. Please remember I am using the term "plastic" very generically as I have no idea what to call those materials.
Mary Penn RN VA-BC
St Charles, MO
We have this happen especially to oncology patients to the point of making some of the feel like throwing up. We have been told that is from the saline leaching plastic from the syringe. A great solution which helps is to draw up saline for those patients from a vial and interestingly enough this off taste issue does not happen. Patients are so appreciative. Thank You
Jackie Tropp
NorthShore University Health system-Evanston
Jackie Tropp RN, BSN, MSN, CRNI