This would be the same as any other CVC. Check the instructions for use for that specific brand of catheter. Look for the internal volume or priming volume. Flushing should be done with at least 5 to 10 mL of saline, maybe up to 20 mLs if you have drawn a blood sample. Locking the catheter is done with heparin but the question is the concentration of heparin. Are you using this lumen routinely for giving meds or drawing blood samples? If so, I would use 10 units heparin per mL. If this lumen is not being used on a regular basis, you may consider using heparin 100 units per mL, but I would not go higher than that as higher heparin concentrations should be aspirated before each use. It may be challenging to get all staff nurses to remember to aspirate the heparin lock solution from that lumen before they use it. Again, the volume of the lock solution depends upon the internal volume, so lock with at least double the catheter lumen's internal volume. Lynn
Does anyone have any research on the roles and functionality of the VAT Team in the acute setting?
After inserting PICC lines does your team care and maintain these lines? How about maintaining other central lines (i.e. Ports, Subclavians etc...)
If care and maintenance is not part of the team functionality, who is responsible to care for these lines?
Thank you.
This would be the same as any other CVC. Check the instructions for use for that specific brand of catheter. Look for the internal volume or priming volume. Flushing should be done with at least 5 to 10 mL of saline, maybe up to 20 mLs if you have drawn a blood sample. Locking the catheter is done with heparin but the question is the concentration of heparin. Are you using this lumen routinely for giving meds or drawing blood samples? If so, I would use 10 units heparin per mL. If this lumen is not being used on a regular basis, you may consider using heparin 100 units per mL, but I would not go higher than that as higher heparin concentrations should be aspirated before each use. It may be challenging to get all staff nurses to remember to aspirate the heparin lock solution from that lumen before they use it. Again, the volume of the lock solution depends upon the internal volume, so lock with at least double the catheter lumen's internal volume. 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
Thank you Lynn!
Does anyone have any research on the roles and functionality of the VAT Team in the acute setting?
After inserting PICC lines does your team care and maintain these lines? How about maintaining other central lines (i.e. Ports, Subclavians etc...)
If care and maintenance is not part of the team functionality, who is responsible to care for these lines?
Thank you.
Mercedes McCoy,RN