How often do you use transducers with UVCs?

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2004

I still don't see a reason for a transducer on a UV.Do you do that if you don't have a UA? If the reading is not accurate and you can see MAP trends with the UA, is there a point I just don't get? Our alarms can set for MAP limits on a transducer if the readings are to high or low.

I've just always been told it's so that you can monitor the line in case it comes out or gets unhooked. Like UK2USA said, some units don't have the best methods to secure these lines so they may come out, and if the line slips out or the tubing gets unhooked, the CVP will be completely crazy so it'll alarm and you'll go check the baby before anything bad happens. We've actually had some lines slip out recently now that we're putting micropreemies into Giraffes with 80-90% body humidity - the duoderm and tape just get waterlogged and come right off. (For those kids we're now putting a few sutures into the umbilical cord to secure the lines.) But the kids never bled more than a few drops because we had to go right over and turn off the CVP alarm and check out the baby.

prmenrs, RN · Jun 16, 2004

I think after the first day or so, I'd want a picc line for nutrition--get rid of the uvc. Also, we're talking about different kinds of babies: microdots vs big sick kids/post-ops. W/the big kids, I think you might want more than one way of looking at fluid balance?

I'm not @ a level III any longer, feel really out of the loop, but I did go to a conf recently where I heard some very interesting trends. e.g., Dopamine is o-u-t, it increases afterload and babies, especially premies, don't like afterload, it increases shunting to the lungs thru the PDA, increasing damage to the lungs. If you need a pressor, you should use Dobutamine, according to this presentor.

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2004

Now this poses an interesting question. Do all of you suture your lines? (meaning the peds suture them in, not you personally)

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Jun 17, 2004

We always suture them...I was surprised to see that Gomper's place just started!

I hear you on the high humidity...nothing sticks!

We don't use Dopa as much as we used to.

Brownbetty · Jun 17, 2004

We use tranducers on our UACs but not UVCs.

nurseiam · Jun 18, 2004

We never use a transducer on a UVC.

UAC/UVC are ALWAYS sutured and secured with opsite.

We rarely use dobutamine, mostly dopamine.

We also just stopped routine use if Indocin for micros....

Mags4711, RN · Jun 19, 2004

Very, very rarely do we use transducers with UVC's. Always with UAC's. the readon behind not using them with UV's ia that they are inaccurate and do only show trending as previously stated in the previous replies. But trending of what? What is a normal baseline? When you put the transducer on, is the baby already in trouble? If so, then what CVP is baseline? We only use them now for a Lasix/PRBC study we are doing and occasionally on our congenital hearts.

Hope this helps!

Faith