Arterial Line Tubing

Specialties MICU

Published

Hello! I need some help on arterial line tubing. Currently in our MICU, to draw labs off our a-lines, we have to open up the system to draw blood. When I was a student in another state, the ICU I trained at had a-line tubing that when you needed to draw labs...you would pull back on this little container, and the "wasted" blood would fill in this container...then further up the tubing (closer to the patient) there was a port that you would swab with alcohol and were able to draw the blood from there. Then you would "push" the wasted blood back into the patient. No need to throw away the wasted blood...and the system was never opened...better for infection control.

Anyone use this type of tubing?? I think it would be great for our unit to use this...no need to waste so much blood when drawing labs, and not opening up the system to possible infection. I don't know anyone at that old hospital that I can contact and ask about the name or type of tubing this was. Maybe someone here can help me??? Thank you so much!!

Specializes in MICU, CCRN.

Yes, I understand what you are saying, unfortunately there is only one transducer/stop cock in this whole setup. It would just be great if my unit started using the VAMP tubing :)

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Yes, I understand what you are saying, unfortunately there is only one transducer/stop cock in this whole setup. It would just be great if my unit started using the VAMP tubing :)
There's only one, at the transducer? How are you doing labs off the a-line then?

It would be easier to use the VAMP tubing...but it may be difficult to get them to change and may take longer than you hope. In the meantime, consider adding an extension to the a-line tubing with another three-way port/stopcock and a syringe at the transducer. It will keep the system closed and make lab draws easier. Good luck. I hope you are able to make some progress with the tubing change.

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Specializes in MICU, CCRN.

Yeah I know it's probably just wishful thinking...

anyways, we just draw the labs off that port, with the stopcock. Thanks for your help with how to improve the tubing we're stuck with ;)

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.

Here's the other type of VAMP that looks like a syringe.

http://www.edwards.com/products/pressuremonitoring/vampplussystembrochurepdf.htm

It might be more comfortable to transition into this because of the syringe. I have used the accordian type in the past and prefer it. Where I am now, they use the syringe type because of an incident with what you are having to do & the staff was too afraid of anything that didn't resemble what they were used to.

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Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.
Hello! I need some help on arterial line tubing. Currently in our MICU, to draw labs off our a-lines, we have to open up the system to draw blood. When I was a student in another state, the ICU I trained at had a-line tubing that when you needed to draw labs...you would pull back on this little container, and the "wasted" blood would fill in this container...then further up the tubing (closer to the patient) there was a port that you would swab with alcohol and were able to draw the blood from there. Then you would "push" the wasted blood back into the patient. No need to throw away the wasted blood...and the system was never opened...better for infection control.

Anyone use this type of tubing?? I think it would be great for our unit to use this...no need to waste so much blood when drawing labs, and not opening up the system to possible infection. I don't know anyone at that old hospital that I can contact and ask about the name or type of tubing this was. Maybe someone here can help me??? Thank you so much!!

Ours are as you described w/the port. Ours is connected to a pressure system and its totally closed. Its the only kind of art. line ive ever used, id never open the system.

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