? central line mistake

Nesher, BSN, RN · May 21, 2005

Could you clarify what the issue is?

Penguinurse · May 21, 2005

Can someone please tell me . I had a hickman cath and did a blood draw and correctly wasted 10cc and then drew another 30cc to send to the lab. I think I may have forgotten to do the secound port, and stated to infuse heparin for a possible PE Thru the port possibly not done. These ports were hepranized. Can these be a serious problem?

If you're saying that you started the heparin infusion through the port that you had not already flushed, it shouldn't be too much of a problem, as long as it was patent. And if it wasn't, sooner or later, the IV pump would alarm and alert the staff of the problem. The heparin solution you use to flush the ports should be much more dilute than the solution you're infusing for the treatment of the PE.

kelly64 · May 21, 2005

Could you clarify what the issue is?

The patient arrested went into PEA , I now know that the patient had underlining issues and was high probable PE. I guess that I just was ? the hickman I just feel a little uncertain with and it's use. I have never had any problems with this before ,I guess the outcome of the patient made me feel as though I did something horrible. It was a sudden outcome that took me by surprise. Thank you for your response.

Have you ever had a family make you feel responsible for a bad outcome? I do know that the pump system that we use is wonderful and alerts to anything not proper.

New CCU RN · May 21, 2005

The patient arrested went into PEA , I now know that the patient had underlining issues and was high probable PE. I guess that I just was ? the hickman I just feel a little uncertain with and it's use. I have never had any problems with this before ,I guess the outcome of the patient made me feel as though I did something horrible. It was a sudden outcome that took me by surprise. Thank you for your response.
Have you ever had a family make you feel responsible for a bad outcome? I do know that the pump system that we use is wonderful and alerts to anything not proper.

If you got 40 cc of blood return from the hickman it was more than likely in the right spot. I don't think his PE had anything to do with the line.

markjrn · May 21, 2005

I don't really understand what you're all saying, but it sounds like you seem to have a better handle on the situation now. :)

Have you ever had a family make you feel responsible for a bad outcome?

I haven't had this happen to me personally, however it raises a red flag. Do you need to be concerned about an impending law suit? Cover your butt!