I have a case study that I'm nor too sure how to answer.
Mrs. S has a PICC line in place for antibiotic therapy. She has Timentin IVPB ordered q 8 hrs. She is saline locked at present. Her PICC line dressing is due to be changed this am. What would be the best time to change the drsg? I think it would be after infusing the antiobiotic becuase then you get assess the site closely afterward as you did the drsg change, but I'm not sure.
"Do it before. Don't forget to change the caps, measure the circumfrence and insertion length, and never saline lock a PICC. It needs to be heplocked."
This is true if it's and open ended, non-valved PICC that doesn't have a positive displacement injection cap on its end. Otherwise, if it is a Valved PICC, like the Groshong or PASV, then saline only is appropriate.
One must know what kind of IV catheter it is to properly care for it.
Specializes in Infusion, Med/Surg/Tele, Outpatient.
"Do it before. Don't forget to change the caps, measure the circumfrence and insertion length, and never saline lock a PICC. It needs to be heplocked."
This is true if it's and open ended, non-valved PICC that doesn't have a positive displacement injection cap on its end. Otherwise, if it is a Valved PICC, like the Groshong or PASV, then saline only is appropriate.
One must know what kind of IV catheter it is to properly care for it.
Sorry! Where I work only the open ended catheters are referred to as PICCs! we call the valved ones by the brand, like Groshong etc.! Gotta remeber a PICC is a category!
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
I currently have another PICC line (an Arrow) in for chemotherapy. I honestly don't know if it is a Groshong or not. However, the agency that cares for it has a policy that it only be flushed and locked with saline. To date, there has been no problem with patency.
I currently have another PICC line (an Arrow) in for chemotherapy. I honestly don't know if it is a Groshong or not. However, the agency that cares for it has a policy that it only be flushed and locked with saline. To date, there has been no problem with patency.
To my knowledge, Arrow does not make a valved IV catheter. However, new designs/catheters are emerging on a frequent basis. Remember that one of the reasons why a catheter can be flushed and maintained with saline only, despite NOT having a valve, is if the catheter has a positive displacement injection cap on its end.
Using one of those caps (as long as its used right) allows for a open ended IV catheter to be maintained with saline only. Remember though that when you use a catheter in this situation, flush... then remove the flush syringe... WITHOUT CLAMPING... wait ten seconds then clamp. This allows the cap to do what it is intended to do, which is force fluid out of the end of the IV catheter. This will not occur and occlusions will result if it is clamped before hand. A positive diplacement cap usually will "say" so on its package.
IVRUS, BSN, RN
1,049 Posts
"Do it before. Don't forget to change the caps, measure the circumfrence and insertion length, and never saline lock a PICC. It needs to be heplocked."
This is true if it's and open ended, non-valved PICC that doesn't have a positive displacement injection cap on its end. Otherwise, if it is a Valved PICC, like the Groshong or PASV, then saline only is appropriate.
One must know what kind of IV catheter it is to properly care for it.