Hypothetical - forgetting to prime IV tubing on a central line

Nurses General Nursing

Published

At our facility we have a patient that has a central line with a positive pressure lock. A colleague asked me (hypothetically, I'm hoping) what would happen if she forgot to prime the tubing (but not the drip chamber) before starting the IV. I remember reading most tubing sets contain 12-25 ml of air, and for most patients the rule of thumb is 1-2ml/KG (50+ generally), however this was for peripheral.

What would happen for a central line?

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in nursing school we learned that it would take approx 25 cc of air right into the subclavian to kill someone.

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Specializes in L&D.

This may be a silly question, but how does the air kill the patient?

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Specializes in Emergency.
This may be a silly question, but how does the air kill the patient?

Air embolism = chu got some 'splainin' to do = a lot of paperwork = rca. On my list of things to never experience.

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Specializes in L&D.

Air embolism! Ugh! I knew that! Sometimes you gotta be reminded of what cha know. Thanks alot!

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Specializes in ICU.

Why are you running IVF through a central line without a pump...or any line save a RR or code? A pump should never allow that to happen.

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Specializes in ED.
Why are you running IVF through a central line without a pump...or any line save a RR or code? A pump should never allow that to happen.

That's called bad practice.

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