Central Line safety

[NursingOR]

Is it ok to move clamps up and down on PICC line or they should never be moved? Any feedback will be appreciated

[AngelMama]

It's fine to move them.

[NursingOR]

I was considering to move PICC line clamp so that the clamp does not damage the line since the patient had the line for more than 3 weeks now, but I was told by another nurse that we should never move the clamp

[AngelMama]

What's her rationale?

If the clamps weren't supposed to be moved, they'd be fixed.

[NursingOR]

Good point

thank you

[AJJKRN]

I was told by a very seasoned Onco nurse that the clamps are preferred to be moved each time as to not promote the break down of the lumen/line faster. Kind of like chewing with the same two top and bottom teeth every time you eat.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Absolutely you can move the clamps on any central line. If a PICC or a CVAD has clamos it is an open ended device or in other words diesdoes not have any type of integral valve.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

That is clamps....my phone sent it before I could correct it...

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

ILUVIVT is correct again, If the IV catheter has clamps, then it is open-ended and non-valved.

However, some central lines, like the Hickman Tunneled IV catheter have a sleeve on it, which delineates, "CLAMP HERE". That means that that clamp can be moved anywhere along that sleeve and clamped. In a similar fashion, other IV catheters may have their clamp moved and it is an absolute must to move it if said clamp is interfering with the dressing application or is in an uncomfortable spot for your patient.

[nynursey_]

I'd be interested to see if any best practice articles exist on this topic, but in the spirit that they don't ...

Logically speaking, having an area on the lumen compressed for an extended period of time might promote kinking, which could then lead to small fibrin clots developing, loss of patency, and breakdown of the material (possibly leading to loss of access and/or infection). Part of ensuring patency in the line is making sure the clamps are in place, they release properly, the lumen flushes easily, and there is brisk blood return (in addition to assessing the site of course). I also agree with the previous poster that noted if PICC/CL clamps were required to be in fixed positions, they would be manufactured as such.