Power Injectable PICC occlusion

[kimhl]

Hi, this has been puzzling me a lot. I had unblocked many power injectable PICCs due to complete occlusion. All these catheters had history of blood back up into tubing despite catheter being clamped prior to occlusion. Has this got to do with catheter rigidity that contributed to the loss of clamping effect?

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

If these Power Injectable IV catheters are BARD PowerPICC, and Power PICC Solo, then Yes I agree with you... These are the two culprits known in my world to occlude quick, fast and in a hurry. Let's take the SOLO, for instance, part of the problem here, as I see it, is that though it is valved, its valve is not at its end like a Groshong, but rather at the opposite end, near the bulbous end where one screws there needleless connector too.

Therefore, fibrin builds up and occludes this opening and since most institutions do NOT Heparinize these IV catheters, which will decrease fibrins formation, it results in frequent occlusions both complete and paritial withdraw.