Flushing iv lines

[Bastian]

This is my first post so I hope it's the right place for this: I have a question about flushing clotted periferal iv lines (venflon flush):

I'm a nursing student right now. At nursing school, we were told by a teacher to always use an empty syringe on the venflon first to try to "suck out" clots stuck in the venflon. His reason for doing this was that if you just pushed in saline, the clot could cause an embolism somewhere else in the body.

At the hospital where I work, I've never seen anyone do this. Everyone just uses a syringe filled with saline to flush the venflon. Some people manually build op pressure in the periferal line to try to clear up small clots.

Can you tell me what the "right way" is to flush periferal lines that aren't running?

thanks,

Bastian.

[uk_nurse]

well on my ward if a lline doesnt flush, we try a smaller syringe a 2.5 mls ( i work on paeds) cos sometimes its just the pressure, if that doesn't work and we cant flush the cannula we remove it and get another one inserted. We DO NOT force it as you said there is a risk of embolisms.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

We use angiocaths, but I usually have good luck sucking out a clot if I take off the T connector and draw out the clot with a 10 cc syringe. If I can't draw out a clot, then it's time for a new IV- never force a flush!!! You are right- you don't want to cause an embolism.

[Dixiedi]

I ditto on the never flush. Your instructor is correct and the nurses you have seen flush first and think last really need to stop doing that!

[1BlessedRN]

I ditto on the never flush. Your instructor is correct and the nurses you have seen flush first and think last really need to stop doing that!

I totally agree with Dixie your instructor is telling you the right info and it's good you asked always ask when in question you will make a GREAT nurse.

Good Luck:)