central line flush/lock

[rehabhereIcome]

I maintain a central line..we do flushes with 10cc BNS and lock it with 300units of Hepalean on a weekly basis..everytime my client goes into hospital they say we only use NS daily to keep the line open...but we were always told to lock it with the heparin solution...any others out there maintaining central line patency. This line is not used except for when IV meds or fluids are needed...he has bad veins so IV access is neart impossible. We have done it this way for 8 years!

Thanks

Theresa

[PICURN74, ASN, RN]

depends on the policy of the place that employes you. I work in a PICU and we treat indwelling lines differently than the regular floors and very different than outpatient places like dialysis within my institution. Most doctors order specific requests for dialysis lines and other high dose heparin locks or where I work but we have a protocol to follow for PICCs, broviacs etc if there isn't a specific order(weight, age of patient, use of line, frequency of accessing). Always a good idea to ask the doc if in doubt.

[rehabhereIcome]

What are those who are working in clients homes only doing?

[Mijuo]

Hickman central lines, Picc lines (except Groshon picc lines) require a heparin flush