epidurals

Specialties Hospice

Published

We admitted a new patient today with an epidural. The anesthesiologist says he has to change the catheter every 3 days. Has anyone had an epidural before in a hospice patient and how long did you leave the catheter in? Does anyone have any peer review on how long it can stay in a hospice patient? He is very set in the fact that 3 days is the standard of care.

Deb

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Specializes in (palliative care/oncology unit).

Change the catheter every 3 days???????????? That's bizarre. Ummmmm.. not where I work. The dressing gets changed by Pain Service when needed but the catheter stays in as long as it works or whatever is planned for. It sometimes takes a while to get it to work just right and with the right med and dose. I don't see them removing it. As Epocrates once said : ' if it ain't broke.. don't fix it.'

Maybe he just needs the practice:lol2:

N_T_L

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Thanks for the reply. As an update. We didn't think the little lady would last 3 days but she has. Her family told the anesthesiologist not to take it out and they would sign anything he wanted if he left it in place. So not sure exactly what changed his mind, but he is leaving it in. It just seemed cruel to change it in a dying person esp since it was working great.

Deb

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Specializes in Pulmonology/Critical Care, Internal Med.

You might wanna ask in the CRNA forum, I'm sure one of them would know

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Specializes in hospice.

I have only had one patient with an epidural. Inpatient was the only way we could do this and then the hospital has policies in place they need to follow. It was to be changed 3rd day with me as well.... however I strongly disagreed with this. My patient never saw the 3rd day.

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