Dual lumen PICC lines

[Lynn Ran]

A radiologist in my institution states that when using one lumen of a double lumen picc or central line, you must flush both ports to keep the line patent. Has anyone heard of this?

[KailuaNurse]

At my facility if you only use one of the lumens, the not being used must be flushed with heparin q 4-8 hours in order to maintain patency.

[RN-PA, RN]

At our hospital, the unused lumen of a dual lumen PICC is supposed to be flushed every 12 hours with NSS and Heparin to keep it patent. I don't know why the other lumen would need to be flushed if it has an infusing IV.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

We only flush the one not being used. Actually they dont like to use dual lumens if they dont have to at my hospital. They say the single lumens can handle faster rates, and even though the second port is being flushed when not used,it has a tendancy to occlude easier.

[capgirl]

The protocol at my hospital is to flush BOTH lumens q 12 hours, even with a continuous infusion. We do NOT use heparin anymore, just 5cc NS in a 10cc syringe.

Seems to be working.

[lisamcrn]

Our policy is that only nongroshong or the unusal from other facilities that are not groshongs are flushed with heparin bid and/or after an infusion or blood drawl. Groshong piccs are flushed with 10cc ns bid for unused ports, always after infusions or blood drawls and the groshongs should be good with only weekly flushes for outpatient used (per our protocol ex with cancer patients). Then there are the midlines and central lines etc that I'm too tired to go into. You would think we would do them all the same don't you for a standard of care etc.

[Lynn Ran]

Thanks to everyone who has responded. We seem to have the same protocol where I work. However, my question is if you are not using either port for infusion but only a timed medication (ex: Cipro IV q 8 hours), do you flush BOTH ports after infusion? This is where I have heard conflicting reports.

Thanks again!!!

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I have always done both. renerian

[Speculating]

Originally posted by Lynn Ran

Thanks to everyone who has responded. We seem to have the same protocol where I work. However, my question is if you are not using either port for infusion but only a timed medication (ex: Cipro IV q 8 hours), do you flush BOTH ports after infusion? This is where I have heard conflicting reports.

Thanks again!!!

Yes! You still have to flush. Unfortunately I had the pleasure of living with a PICC for about three months around this time last year in fact with Cipro every eight hours. Protocol was Heparin Flush every eight hours after the Cipro and a simple Heparin Flush to the unused port every twelve hours.

[rncopper]

At the last 3 assignments I have been at, they have stopped using heparin for flushes on PICC's. Only NS now. Not sure of the rationale; there must be some new research out there. Have not had a problem with patency.

Not sure of the incidence of flushing both ports after only using one. I am going to ask our IV team tomorrow (they are very protective of their PICC's. Only the IV team can draw blood from it).

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Seems that if you have protocol that says flush every 8, then you would go ahead and flush both after a IVPB that was being infused every 8 hours. We still heparinize both ports on the duel piccs. Havent heard any rumblings of changing the protocols at my facility yet. Maybe it has something to do with degredation of the material with heparin? I dont know.