Heparin Flush Question

Peripheral IVs do not need to be flushed with Heparin.

Are you talking about central lines??

HPRN

well you flush Iv with heparin if you still want to use the site to prevent blood clot

well you flush Iv with heparin if you still want to use the site to prevent blood clot

Not in the US you don't. As far as I know flushing peripheral IVs with Heparin has not been our practice for years.

The only time an IV is flushed with Heparin is when it is a central type line, and the Heparin flush strength depends on if it is a Port-a-cath or a PICC/Mid line. Peripheral IV lines are flushed with NSS only and have been for at least the last 5 years in the US. Check your facilities venous catheter flushing protocols.

When would I flush an IV with Heparin?

When it's a central line (CVL, PICC, Port-a-cath).

When should I specifically not flush with Heparin?

When it's not a central line.

When would I flush an IV with Heparin?

When you have an order.

When should I specifically not flush with Heparin?

When you don't have an order.

In my ICU we don't use heparin in CVCs either, because we typically don't leave any one port go unused for long. If they're not being used, we flush with 10 ml NS q 8 hrs (well here our policy is q 8 hrs; the place I first worked at told us q 4.) We recently went to NS for PICCs also. Port-a-caths I believe still use heparin, although we almost never see those on my unit so I'd have to look up the protocol

The only lines we heplock at my facility are ports, and only with an order. Also, we only heplock them if the line is not going to be accessed for 12 hours.

This sounds a bit like homework…

But, I will answer…flush with heparin based on your protocols for how much and how often (ports, PICCs, etc). I became an RN in 2008…I have never seen a peripheral line flushed/locked with heparin.

Thank you everyone! You all helped a lot :)