Hi,
Does anyone have references or recommendations R/T drawing PTTs from a site above a running heparin drip. Certainly, the first choice would be to use the opposite arm but sometimes those sites are unaccessible.
If PTTs need to drawn from a site above an IV with heparin infusing:
Should the drip be turned off, if so how long?
Should a certain amt of blood be discarded before obtaining a sample?
Any references?
Thanks in advance for the information.
Hannah
I do not recall ever seeing any studies on these issues. I checked the new 2011 Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice #57 Phlebotomy via Direct Venipuncture. "Venipuncture for the purpose of phlebotomy should be drawn from the opposite extremity of an infusion. Should venipuncture be required on the extremity with a VAD infusion, it should be performed in a vein below the device or infusion." Ranking of V The 2 references for this statement comes from textbooks probably indicating there are no studies on these issues, thus the low ranking. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
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