Hi Everyone,
Does anyone know if the insertion of a peripheral artline should be avoided on the arm of a mastectomy, lymph know dissection, pacemaker, fistual, etc.? Does the insertion of an artline follow the same guidelines for avoiding an extremity as the insertion of a venous access device? If anyone could provide a reference, that would be awesome!
I don't think the literature makes specific statements about these questions. The new INS standards of practice, now in the mail to members, address arterial catheters in several standards such as VAD Planning and Site Selection. I would avoid use of an upper extremity with lymph node dissection and the presence of AV fistulas or grafts. Mastectomy alone without lymph node dissection and the presence of pacemaker would not be a reason to avoid either a peripheral arterial or venous catheter on the ipsilateral side. 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