CVP through PowerPort?

ICUenthusiast · Jun 5, 2011

The port is just made so it can handle the injection pressure from imaging dye and doesn't need hep lock flushes.

Can run thru them fine, we have been.

http://www.bardaccess.com/nurse-powerpiccsolo.php

if you wanna double check, even bard says you can!

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2011

The link that you provided was for a Power PICC, while the OP is asking about a port- they are two very different things.

Yes, power contrast injectors can be used on Power PICCs, and also on Power Ports, if they are also accessed with a power needle (different from a standard huber needle). But one also must check to make sure that is a Power port or a Power Picc.

However, to my knowledge, one cannot obtain a CVP from a port, or any port. My understanding is that the chamber itself interferes with getting an accurate central venous pressure. But you can check with the manufacturers.

ICUenthusiast · Jun 6, 2011

The link that you provided was for a Power PICC, while the OP is asking about a port- they are two very different things.
Yes, power contrast injectors can be used on Power PICCs, and also on Power Ports, if they are also accessed with a power needle (different from a standard huber needle). But one also must check to make sure that is a Power port or a Power Picc.
However, to my knowledge, one cannot obtain a CVP from a port, or any port. My understanding is that the chamber itself interferes with getting an accurate central venous pressure. But you can check with the manufacturers.

You're right, I misread the powerport as a picc. Had just gotten off work when checking forums heh.

haji · Jun 6, 2011

why not just hook it up to a transducer and see what kind of waveform you get?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2011

why not just hook it up to a transducer and see what kind of waveform you get?

Just because you get a waveform, does not mean that it is accurate.

RN1980 · Jun 6, 2011

i would plug it in and see what you get, of course the wave form should be smooth enough for you to recognise the a wave and z point and try to get a manual mean cvp reading and compare to the monitor readings. keep in mind that the readings should conicide with whats going one with your pt.

libbyjeanne · Jun 7, 2011

Considering the placement difference between a port and the distal end of a CL, I highly doubt that you can obtain a CVP from a port.

RN1980 · Jun 7, 2011

called a pal of mine that works at another icu, he claims they have used picc lines for cvp readings in the past at his hospital.

daisy2daisy · Jun 8, 2011

You can use a picc line for a CVP but you could not say it was a right atrial pressure. The picc terminates at the svc. I have never seen an implanted port (I.e. Port-a-cath)

Used for CVP's.

HannaJo · Jun 9, 2011

I work in a SICU/CVRU and we use PICCs for CVP readings.

Here is a question for you guys.. We had a renal patient come to us after coding in dialysis. The only access the patient had was a temporary HD cath (Which had been accessed in dialysis and was running IVF upon arrival) The HD cath had not been hep locked and the Renal MD, who was on the floor, wrote an "OK to use HD cath" order. Due to hypotension a CVP reading was requested. Anyone used HD cath for CVP readings?? My guess would be that it would be inaccurate due to the location the tip terminates but the Critcal Care MD said to use it anyway. Any feedback?

meandragonbrett · Jun 9, 2011

My guess would be that it would be inaccurate due to the location the tip terminates but the Critcal Care MD said to use it anyway. Any feedback?

Often times we will transduce whatever venous access they have even though it might not be a true CVP. We'll transduce to just look at the trend (not necessarily the number) to see if we are headed in the appropriate direction until we can get a definitive line placed.