Question about flushing lines

[R!XTER]

Odd/possibly dumb question:

Why is it that it's OK to flush an IV line when it's clotted and not running? I know we do this all the time, but I cringe every time I do it because I am literally shooting a clot into the person's vein. Am I missing something???

[getoverit, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

i'd love to know how a clot in a vien got into coronary vessel unless there's a structural abnormality in the heart ... what's actually going to happen if there is a clot is potentially a micro or pico-PE

good point. when I wrote that I had a patient with a large LA thrombus, chronic AF, etc and I was thinking about him. although, very few things are completely impossible.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

If the line is really clotted and difficult to use, just change it. Better to be safe than sorry. I wouldn't muck about trying to flush things as it wastes time. Changing a line takes no time at all.

Don know re central lines or PICCS. Follow your facility policy.