Infusing in the Yellow PA Port on A swan

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Specializes in PACU.

Received an outside hospital transfer with dobutamine infusing in Yellow Pa Port on a swan that wasn't being used. I know we don't usually infuse in the PA. What is the reasoning or effects of this?

Thanks

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Why was the patient on Dobutamine infusion? Sounds very unconventional and even unsafe since we know that vasoactive medications were tested for their effects using intravenous administration and not intraarterial administration. It is also against vascular catheter manufacturer recommendation. I'm not aware of any study that determined the effects of direct pulmonary artery administration of Dobutamine or any other drug for that matter. What we do know, however, is that case reports of intraarterial infusion of medications have resulted in various adverse effects some of which can be life threatening (i.e, thrombosis, inflammation of the vessel, necrosis of surrounding tissues). I'd be interested to find out if this was an error or deliberate as part of a study.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

First of all, the drug is supposed to be given intravenously. Second, depending on the drip rate I'd be concerned about giving the pt a fluid embolus. I'm not sure how much fluid it would take to do that to be honest, but I'm sure as heck not going to infuse anything faster than a pressure line in there

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I have never infused in the PA/distal port

thread moved for best response

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

In addition to infusing in the distal port; it is also unsafe to have a PA without transducing it as it could be wedged. Sounds like it should have been pulled.

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