IV Heparin/saline lock

[sweet sue]

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me on a Heparin/saline lock how often the adapters are changed and how often is the IV catheter changed?

sweet sue

[S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN]

Depends on the policy of the hospital. Some places q 48/72/96/or only when needed.

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me on a Heparin/saline lock how often the adapters are changed and how often is the IV catheter changed?

sweet sue

Times to change the injection caps on the end of a short term, peripheral IV catheter less than 3" in length, should coincide with the placement of a new IV catheter which is q72 hours. However, there are PRN times as well. I have seen injections caps as flat as a pancake because a patient has chewed it to be so... and I've seen them covered in feces... These examples are just two times where we are way past a prn time!

Injection caps on midlines/PICC's and other catheters that are placed under sterile conditions, according to INS, should be changed q 7days and prn.

Recommended dwell time for midlines (again according to INS) is 2-4weeks.

There is not a recommended dwell time for PICC catheters as they can safely stay in for years in the absence of complications.

Other IV catheters may vary on dwell times and you'd have to refer to P&P and manufacturers recommendations.

ie.. Tunneled IV catheters may dwell for years, whereas a Subclavian TLC may be 7-14 days (if it has antibiotic coating).

Hope this helps

DD

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

My facility IV sites and tubing are changed q 72 hours.

[EmmaG, RN]

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5110a1.htm

This summarizes the main points:

http://multimedia.mmm.com/mws/mediawebserver.dyn?6666660Zjcf6lVs6EVs6661a5COrrrrQ-

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I believe the Infusion Nurses standards say change every 72 or prn. Check them out on www.ins1.org

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

Our hospital policy has changed to Q96 hrs