I have for years now been removing central lines and have always been taught to lay supine to prevent air embolism along with ointment or vasoline gause and dressing. When my dad had his heart surgery after double checking how nurses pulled central lines when I had gone home they pulled my dads line sitting up and eating. I needless to say had a fit with the hospital. Thank God my dad had no complications. So the other day I was having discussions with my physician and he was asking me science for them to lay flat in removal. of course when introducing line need for trendelenburg is important. I have been looking different places but I know on this site could find additional information.
thanks
Lisa
There is the standard, see more at Standard 50, Air Embolism.
Good for you to be on top of this. When questions come up one strategy to find evidence is to find the standard, then the cite the references used to support the standard. In this case there are 6 citations.
Hope that helps!
Agreed. I can personally attest to the fact that I know of two episodes of immediate collapse of patients when central line was removed with patient sitting up. (one in a chair and one in bed). One was resuscitated immediately but the other was transferred to ICU and did not fare so well. This is Nursing 101. What is
being taught in schools anymore?
Infusion Nursing Standard #44 VAD Remoal and # 50 Air Emboli. See the references for both of these standards. Your understanding is totally correct. There have been numerous lawsuits due to venous air emboli with the CVAD removal when the patient was sitting up. It can and does happen but so thankful that it did not happen to your father. 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