We had a rep from a equipment company recently provide education for our staff. She instructed the nurses to never place a peripheral IV in a vein that goes through a vein valve. She states that once a catheter has gone through a valve, that valve will never be able to close again. I have been looking for evidence to support this. If this is true, then when we place picc lines, we are damaging quite a number of valves throughout the picc pathway. I have not been able to find any supporting or contraindicating evidence. Any input is greatly appreciated it.
Thanks,
Molly Black,RN CRNI VA-BC
Specialty Practice Nurse
IU Health Bloomington Hospital
I need some clarificaiton on your question. By "go through the valve" are you talking about a catheter passing between the leaflets of a venous valve OR are you asking about a needle passing through the actual valve leaflets? Maybe I am reading more into the question than you are asking but both scenarios came to my mind when I read it. It is virtually impossible to insert any peripheral catheter in a vein and not have it pass through a venous valve.
Damage to a venous valve can happen if there is vein thrombosis. It is called post-thrombotic venous insufficiency, commonly involves severe thrombophlebitis, and it can cause distal edema and some pain or tenderness in the extremity. But this does not happen when the catheter passes between the leaflets and no vein thrombosis occurs.
By the way, if this was a sales or clinical manufacturer rep you should not waste your time finding something to support what they are saying to sell the product. You should expect them to provide you the same information in a written format from the manufacturer. If they can not do that, then I would totally discount what they are actually saying. The same standard should apply when other professionals tell you something, such as physicians demanding some specific practices.
Frankly, I think this sales rep does not totally understand what they were suppose to learn from their training or they are trying to spread a lot of manure your way! 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