Hi, I'm new to this site and I hope that I'm posting this question in the right place.
I'm an RN and I'm having a difficult time caring for my own PICC line. It is a double lumen Bard Power PICC Solo. I use MaxPlus positive displacement caps. The problem is, I have frequent spontaneous blood reflux that fills my lines. This has caused several occlusions (requiring expensive cathflo treatments) and I've only had the PICC in for about 4months. I am on twice daily antibiotics and IVIG. I have poor venous access so I need this PICC line.
Do you all have any suggestions? Is there anything I can do to prevent the blood refluxing? It happens multiple times daily. I am careful to use the positive pressure flushing technique. The PICC line nurses at my hospital have not been able to figure out what is causing this problem. They say it shouldn't happen. I had another Power PICC with the same problem that was pulled and replaced for this reason, constant blood reflux and frequent occlusions.
I would greatly appreciate any advice.