HI all,
We are having a debate in our facility. If we have a patient with a double lumen PICC with one lumen occluded, is it okay to give chemotherapy through the lumen that is working while we TPA the occluded lumen?
I cannot seem to find evidence stating what to do in this situation.
Thanks
sarah
There has been lots of discussion about this on this site. In my opinion, I would not continue with the infusion of any drug while I was doing any catheter clearance procedure. There will always be overspill from the catheter lumen being cleared. This could produce an incompatibility with the infusing fluid at the catheter tip, regardless of whether there were staggered lumen exits or not. I would want all lumens functioning well before any infusion. If you can find evidence that the fluid/med being infused is compatible with the agent being used to clear the lumen, you might be able to continue the infusion. If there is evidence of incompatiblity or no evidence either way, I would not continue the infusion during the clearance procedure. 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