Pt. with intermittent abx through port, locking with ethanol, now no blood return from port. Is it safe to withdraw ethanol, flush with NS and then instill Alteplase?
Thanks!
Ethanol locking solutions greater than 30% are associated with an irreversible protein precipitate. This could be the problem and rt-PA is not going to do anything. If you can't get a blood return, how will you aspirate the ethanol? Lynn
I would be curious to see if the manufacturer supports an ethanol lock, may want to contact them to see if prolonged exposure is safe. Some plastics do not play well with ethanol with prolonged exposure.
That would be all catheter made of any form of polyurethane but NOT silicone. I have never seen any polyurethane catheter manufacturer issue anything in writing support use of ethanol locks. Lynn
Ethanol locking solutions greater than 30% are associated with an irreversible protein precipitate. This could be the problem and rt-PA is not going to do anything. If you can't get a blood return, how will you aspirate the ethanol? 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
I would be curious to see if the manufacturer supports an ethanol lock, may want to contact them to see if prolonged exposure is safe. Some plastics do not play well with ethanol with prolonged exposure.
Asystole RN, BSN, CRNI, VA-BC
Vascular Access Nurse, Infusion Nurse
That would be all catheter made of any form of polyurethane but NOT silicone. I have never seen any polyurethane catheter manufacturer issue anything in writing support use of ethanol locks. 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