I'm writing a facility policy of flushing frequency of PIVs, I know most facilities state to flush every 8 hours, but I haven't found evidence to support this practice nor does INS give a specific recommendation on frequency. The first article I found https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16304498. Flushing every 24 hours rather than 8 hours is counterintuitive to me. Please educate me!
Regards,
Chris
Flush before each use for an intermittent infusion (ABX q 8, 12 H, etc) to assess site patency. Flush and lock after this infusion.
Flush PRN with a continuous infusion when pump is alarming with some type of occlusion downstream. Again this is for the purpose of assessing site patency.
If there is no continuous infusion and no intermittent infusion, the PIV should be removed if it has not been used for 24 h. Also in INS SOP on VAD Removal. There is absolutely no established need to flush it more often than these times. A continuous infusion does not require routine flushing. An intermittent infusion requires flushing before and after the medication. If not being used, take it out. It is as simple as that.
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