Have u ever heard of this?

Specialties Emergency

Published

1.short line

2.long line

what are they?

canned_bread

351 Posts

Specializes in Cath lab, acute, community.

It refers to various forms of IV access. A short line has the end into the arm, a long line goes into the chest. We are not allowed to use those terms in documentation due to the confusion it has caused.

7feetunder

54 Posts

It refers to various forms of IV access. A short line has the end into the arm, a long line goes into the chest. We are not allowed to use those terms in documentation due to the confusion it has caused.

thanx for the replies :)

in documentation..what should the terms be?

acctually i heard this from a friend of mine..when he explain it to me,i still couldn't figure it out..what exactly it was..

edmia, BSN, RN

827 Posts

Specializes in Emergency, ICU.

I have to confess that this is the first time I have ever heard these terms...

If it refers to line length and placement, I would guess that a Short Line equals a peripheral angiocath insertion/IV line and that Long Line refers to a central line -- either an IJ, SC, PICC, femoral TLC....

This is just a guess.

7feetunder

54 Posts

hi,edmia..but i think you're right..

but..hey,guys out there i want to hear more of your explanation and opinion :)...

edmia, BSN, RN

827 Posts

Specializes in Emergency, ICU.

Not sure what else you need, but when documenting a line insertion you should always document site, technique used (I.e. Sterile or clean procedure), type and gauge of angiocath used, who completed the procedure, when and time, and assessment of site post insertion.

I would never say "short line placed" but rather "peripheral IV access obtained using an 18 gauge angiocath to left forearm, site prepped with chlorhexidine per protocol, etc".

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

pm2rn

34 Posts

Specializes in er.

some new picc lines are short and do not go all the way to heart now. don't need x-ray after. saw my first one last week.

iluvivt, BSN, RN

2,774 Posts

Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

There is no such thing as a short PICC line. :nono: PICC stands for peripherally inserted central catheter with the emphasis here on CENTRAL. Both INS and NAVAN state that a PICC should be placed into the distal third of the SVC. You never want to intentionally place a PICC a shorter distance such as only to the Subclavian for the patient will be at a higher risk for EVERY complications and especially thrombosis. If any nurse is doing this and a complication should arise you can get sued b/c you are not following the standard of care...as in the patient that won a 7.2 million lawsuit for his 2 PICC lines that were intentionally placed in the Subclavain vein. There are a lot of hoops you need to jump through if clinically you do need to use a suboptimally placed CVC of any type but I will not go into that now.

I suspect you saw a midline catheter which is no longer than 20 cm and the tip must be in the upper third of the arm and never go into the chest. These have a lot of limitations in terms of what you can use them for. let me know if you want more detail

A short line is a PIV with the catheter being 3 inches or less and the tip in a peripheral vein..better to just describe what you used and where anatomically it is placed.

A long line is a central line with the tip in a large vein in the chest and subject to chest pressure or in the case of a HD catheter with an RA tip placement. Again it is better to be specific with type of CVC and its anatomical insertion site and tip location. :redbeathe

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pm2rn

34 Posts

Specializes in er.

just stating what picc line tech told me. thanks for the update.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

This is for the US.......

Peripheral Venous IV line (short line)

This is the typical "hospital IV" line put in your hand or forearm when you are admitted to the hospital. It is a short catheter, usually 3/4 to 1 inch long, inserted into a small peripheral vein and designed to be temporary. These catheters need to be changed every three days, or more often if they dislodge from the vein. Because the veins used are small and have less blood flowing past the catheter, many medications can irritate a peripheral vein. There is a plastic dressing over the catheter, which has to be kept clean and dry at all times. These peripheral IV lines work well in the hospital, where there are nurses to monitor and change them frequently, but are impractical for extended home use because of the potential for dislodging the small catheter from the vein.

Midline Peripheral Catheter (short line)

This type of catheter is inserted into your arm near the inside of the elbow and threaded up inside your vein to a length of 6 inches. One brand name of this type of catheter is Landmark®, but several brands are available. It is no more painful than having a peripheral IV inserted because you don't feel the catheter moving up your vein. These catheters typically last about six weeks -- a perfect catheter for a short course of antibiotics, but not really practical for long-term intravenous therapy. The end of the catheter will reach a much larger vein with more blood flow and will cause less irritation of the vein.

Central Catheters, Peripherally Inserted (long line)

These catheters are centrally placed, meaning the tip ends up in the Superior Vena Cava, which is the largest vein leading directly to the heart after collecting blood from the rest of the body. Even irritating medications can be given through a central catheter because there is enough blood flow past the catheter to dilute the drug. "Peripherally inserted" means it goes into your body at your elbow and the tip is threaded up into your vein. Two brand names for this type of catheter are Groshong® and Intrasil®, though again, there are other brands. The Groshong catheters have a valve at the tip, preventing blood from backing up into the catheter, so heparin is not necessary. Groshong catheters are usually thinner and more flexible than other types of catheters and don't require a clamp, which adds bulk to the others. These types of catheters are inserted by a nurse, and are usually no more painful than a peripheral IV insertion. After the catheter is inserted, a chest X-ray is required to make sure the tip is in the right location above the heart. There is a plastic dressing at the elbow which must be kept clean and dry at all times; it is changed and the site cleaned once a week or more by your nurse. These types of catheters usually last for six weeks to six months, but frequently last even longer than that.

Central Catheters, Tunnelled (long line)

These catheter tips also end up in the Superior Vena Cava, but the other end is tunnelled about six inches away under the skin on the chest. On the catheter, inside this skin tunnel, is a Dacron cuff which your skin seals around, preventing bacteria from crawling along the outside of the catheter into the blood stream. Two popular brand names of this type of catheter are Hickman® and Groshong®. The Groshong catheters have a valve at the tip, tend to be lighter and more flexible and don't require a bulky clamp. These catheters are surgically placed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. The catheter will usually exit the skin near the nipple area and since the end dangles out, it's always available for use. This makes it very easy to use for daily medications.

The Groshong tunnelled catheter needs a saline flush after each medication or every one to seven days if not in use. The Hickman tunnelled catheter needs a saline and heparin flush after every medication or at least once daily if not in use. Blood can be drawn from a tunnelled catheter if the MD consents.

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Intravenous therapy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://picclinenursing.com/MidlineCatheters2ndedition.pdf

http://picclinenursing.com/MidlineCatheters2ndedition.pdf

iluvivt, BSN, RN

2,774 Posts

Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

The Landmark midline was taken OFF the market many many years ago due to anaphylactic type reactions during or just after insertion,most likey related to the product material. That policy needs an update. Also be aware that a PICC line SHOULD never be trimmed and used as a MIDLINE. If you are going to place a MIDLINE you should use a catherter that is manufactured as such.

7feetunder

54 Posts

Wow,Thanx for the good and details info and explanation..

I appreciate it :)

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