Thank you for your input. We certainly will continue to pursue having this catheter evaluated for proper placement and blood return. We just weren't sure if positive placement by xray using dye showing it was in the right place could be taken as proper placement.
There could easily be other issues with the performance of the implanted port or any VAD. The only thing that a contrast injection will determine if the tip is in the correct location and if there is a fibren sheath/thrombosis causing retrograde infusion. Loops, kinks, compression, and extravascular tip locations could be the issue. 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