Question about new vascath

Published

So I really feel like I didnt learn very much at all about the placement of any type of access, but especially central lines and those used for dialysis. Every time I have a patient with a newly placed access I freak out and don't know what normal or not. Usually they are leaky but apparently that's normal? But the other day I had a patient who had just had a vascath placed in her femoral and it was a constant slow bleed. I called the doctor and he didn't seem to think much of it. He just said he would see her later. So is that normal? Basically I would like to know what to expect and just how much bleeding is ok?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

LMGTFY

Let me google that for you

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vascular Access.

It I not unusual for a newly placed central line to ooze blood from the site during the first 24 hours after placement. Now, if you are needing to change the dressing covering the site every two to three hours, then that is a problem, and a hemostatic agent to stop the bleeding should be ordered and applied.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion