Aspirating or flushing the catheter lock solution?

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  1. This is a discussion on Aspirating or flushing the catheter lock solution? in Dialysis / Renal / Urology, part of Nursing Specialties ... Dear all, I know that guidelines in hospital recommend to aspirate the lock solution but can you...

    by Jul 13, '12
    Dear all,

    I know that guidelines in hospital recommend to aspirate the lock solution but can you explain me the real reasons of it? (risk for the safety? allergies?...)


    Are the risk different between heparin and citric solutions?Is it dangerous to directly flush a citrate solution?

    Thanks for your aswers
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    by pineau Jul 13, '12 10:30 am
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  3. 3 Comments so far...

  4. Jul 17, '12 by
    Quote from pineau
    Dear all,

    I know that guidelines in hospital recommend to aspirate the lock solution but can you explain me the real reasons of it? (risk for the safety? allergies?...)


    Are the risk different between heparin and citric solutions?Is it dangerous to directly flush a citrate solution?

    Thanks for your aswers
    Well the real risk of flushing in the lock is introducing the clots (that have formed at the tip and the area where the legs/lumens are kinked because of the clamps) into the circulatory system.
  5. Jul 17, '12 by
    Dialysis catheters are packed with a higher dose of heparin than a normal CVC line. Heparin 1:1000units /ml up to 1:10,000units/ml is used for dialysis catheters. Normal line flushed are 1:100 units.

    Only dialysis staff should be accessing these catheters. These are off limits to hospital staff because this is the patients "lifeline".
  6. Jul 19, '12 by
    Flushing a citrate lock into the circulatory system
    can cause an unsafe drop in blood calcium levels. It is unlikely that such a small amount of citrate would be detrimental, but the concern still exists and the lock should be aspirated whenever possible.