intermittant infusion device

[valene]

what are you flushing your locks with? heparin or pres. free NSS? and how often

thanks:chuckle

[NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN]

It depends on what kind of line it is- if it's a PIV that's locked, we usually do NS flushes at least once a shift (though usually I'll do it twice if there aren't any IVP meds on my shift because I hate leaving a blown or clotted PIV for someone else if they have to give something later that day). If it's a central line in use, they usually either have IVF's running through (eliminating the need for flushing) or have a Heparin flush solution running through (like with a double lumen line). If they have a locked PICC or Broviac, we use 1:1 or 0.5:1 Heparin/NS to flush it at least q shift, and in those cases, the MD usually writes it as an order to make sure it gets done so the line won't clot and have to be replaced.