Femoral Central line

As far as I know, they can be out of bed, but cannot bend at the hip beyond a certain angle.

It is not recommended that patients with Femoral lines be up walking around, as far as bending at the hip, this is uncomfortable for the patient. Femoral lines are high risk for infection, as patient advocates we should "suggest" other access such as PICC lines and get the Femoral line out ASAP. jb

If they are well enough to get out of bed,they aren't sick enough to have a fem line! The femoral site has horrendous infection and thrombus rates and if the patient is improved enough to the point of getting more mobile,the risks outweigh the benefits of leaving it in.

Hi, I have regular femoral lines in due to the fact I have severe allergies and have no veins left at all.My latest line went in on the 21st March and came out on the 2nd April 2008 ,due to the fact I had an infected foot ,and while they were trying me on antiboitics I was Having anaphylatic shocks.during those days half the nursing staff had no idea I had a line in,some used gloves to give the drugs,others didnt.I was expected to go to the bathroom,shower and move around as usual.several times after a shower the dressing holding the line in would become soggy and would need changing.
Untill I read the coments posted I didnt realise they should be treated any differantly.
The line never causes me any pain, I can reach down,bend at the hip and walk with no problem at all.well no one has ever told me not to.This time however the stitch site became weepy and sore, and I have been left with a swelling under the skin at the needle site which is now becoming more painful every day,although not red on the surface the pain is more like a cramp going down deep inside.Despite my worries at the time ,and asking the nurse taking out the line if she was going to send off the tip to check for infection ,it wasnt done and so now I am wondering what should be done.
I totally disagree with the comment that if you are walking around you are not ill enough for a line,it is my only way of having my drugs iv, and as I am also allergic to lignocaine I have the extra problem of no pain relief when they go in.
This is my third femoral line in my right groin ,and I was told it was very difficult to put it in this time as there is a lot of scaring now,I have also had central lines put in (they will have to knock me out next time for one of those as that was very uncomfortable )not so much the pain side but the sickening thud as it pops in.
I am not a nurse,just a patient who was looking up what to do about my painful line site when I came across these comments and this site,and thought you might like my thoughts about it ,maybe I am now an expert on femoral lines lol.
Anyway if anyone can advise me what they think I can do about this pain I am having I would be most grateful.
Thanks xx

Rufa-
Sorry to hear of your difficulties but thank you for sharing. Has anyone ever told you that there was a reason that your arm,chest or neck veins could not be used for a device? There are dozens if not hundreds of vascular access options out there,and someone ought to be able to figure out something better for you. The thought of someone showering with a femoral line just makes me cringe.....
Also,there are alternatives to Lidocaine for local numbing that you may not react to. A pharmacist could help in that regard. Good luck to you.

Thank you for your response about my femoral lines.I will certainly now ask my doctor to see if there is any other way that I can have access to my veins.
I have a care plan in the accident and emergency department of our local hospital which states that the most senior doctor is to have two tries at getting access, and after that an anaesthetist is called and we go from there.
I have had ultrasound scans in recuss to find veins but with no luck,my veins move around from the needles and sometimes give flashbacks before dissapearing.sorry I dont know the tecnical terms this is only what I have picked up over the years.
I have had small needles in my neck over the years (but due to the positions they dont last very long )as well as central lines.
There was talk last year of a port being put in but they thought I may have trouble with infections.
Thank you again for the advice about the Lignocaine,I think every one including my doctor is afraid to try new treatments because of my violent reactions to them but as you say something needs to be done.
many thanks xx

generally speaking pts that need to be up and mobile should not have a femoral line. As we all know there are exceptions. Other contraindications are...pt has an IVC filter in place.....thrombosis of femoral vein or vena cava ......penetrating abd trauma........and pts that need to be mobile. They have a much higher incidence of thrombosis (about 25%) when compared to other lines as well as a higher incidence of infection (about 19-20%) when compared to other CVC's. We get them out ASAP and replace with a PICC if pt still needs access.