I have an oncology patient who has a single lumen BioFlo PICC that has had blood back up to the needleless connector twice today. Has anyone ever dealt with this problem. This PICC is valved therefore no clamp, I am wondering if my valve is bad?
I have an oncology patient who has a single lumen BioFlo PICC that has had blood back up to the needleless connector twice today. Has anyone ever dealt with this problem. This PICC is valved therefore no clamp, I am wondering if my valve is bad?
I would transduce or do gases to rule out arterial placement. 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
Yes, I'm going to guess this to be a valve problem. You can try changing the cap as well, as sometimes the septum gets stuck in the depressed position and blood can back up into the line.
Ann Armstrong, RN
PICC Lines
MidMichigan Medical Center, Midland
I replaced the needleless connector and added a TKO and the problem stopped. The patient had the line in for weeks before the problem began, the company is going to evaluate the picc and valve to determine if it had a flaw. Very good feedback from angiodynamics.
BJ Sherman, RN
Vascular Access Coordinator
Memorial Hospital
I have had legal cases where the PICC was an arterial placement for days before it was discovered. The intraluminal pressure to open that integral valve is greater than nornal intrathoracic venous pressure. So ruling out arterial placement would always my first action just to be on the safe side. An incompetent integral valve could happen though. 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