remove clotts from iv line

BluegrassRN · Jan 27, 2011

Can you be a little more specific? You mean, if you can't flush the line? I have no idea what "twist the plastic tube above" means. If a line clots off, you don't want to force a flush and send the clot into the circulatory system.

Most facilities only stock heparin for central lines; you don't shoot 5ccs of heparin into a peripheral line to break up a clot...heparin prevents clotting, but does not break down formed clots.

Sometimes you can break down the IV to the hub and aspirate a clot, particularly if blood has backed up in the line. If it still doesn't flush easily, then you need to restart the peripheral.

Best to prevent the line from clotting off in the first place. If a pt's going down to xray or somewhere else and you're clamping off the line: flush in quick start-stop-start-stop-start-stop (you get the idea) manner, clamp as close to the hub as possible, and then remove the flush/line.

If they're going down to xray or going to the bathroom with the line in place, the pump should keep it going. Or are we talking gravity drips here?

sunlight85 · Feb 10, 2011

we are talking about gravity drips , basically my question is how serius is clotts entering the circulation? i ve seen it many many times and all the patients are ok...

CuriousMe · Feb 10, 2011

we are talking about gravity drips , basically my question is how serius is clotts entering the circulation? i ve seen it many many times and all the patients are ok...

You've seen what multiple times?

Yes, sending a clot through a patient's circulation is serious.

anonymousstudent · Feb 10, 2011

Ah! Don't push a clot through. Oh no no no.

ITA w/ PP, keep it cleared in the first place. Make sure it's being flushed enough. If it's not, start it in another location.

kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 11, 2011

hello, i would like to ask how can i remove clotts from a peripheral iv line? usually after the paient goes to the toilet or for xray? some just flush hepsal (diluted heparin ) or just twist the plastic tube above.is that ok? or do you just push the clots into the circulation?

That's not very clear. But your line won't "clot" that fast if something is infusing. If you can push it, it's not clotted. If blood backs up into the tubing because they lower the bag or something, just flush it and clear the line.

CCL RN, RN · Feb 11, 2011

You won't eveerything have to worry about clots if you maintain your IVs. If your IV is not infusing' flush and clamp as per hospital policy.

Honestly, clots in an IV are poor nuring practice, and c'mon....you know better. Of course pushing clots into circulation is serious...

sunlight85 · Mar 11, 2011

so what do you do if an ivline isn t working? you just flush it?

netglow, ASN, RN · Mar 12, 2011

OP, three years experience as what? :eek:

If you are a student and you find resistance to a flush, or note that your drip is infiltrating or for some reason not progressing (alarm) DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING. GO GET YOUR INSTRUCTOR OR FACILITY RN.

Whew! really!!! You need to stop and start over with any and all IV edu. Do not go near anything intravenous until you go back and hit the books and hit your school's lab and get up to speed.

sunlight85 · Mar 23, 2011

so what is your hospital policy if an ivf line stops working ?

CuriousMe · Mar 23, 2011

so what is your hospital policy if an ivf line stops working ?

Remove it

sandi1743 · Mar 23, 2011

we are talking about gravity drips , basically my question is how serius is clotts entering the circulation? i ve seen it many many times and all the patients are ok...

if you are at a place where actual blood clots are pushed into the vein, then i would really worry - clotted blood in the circulatory system kills people!

if we are talking about blood washing back into a heplock/hub area when the pt returns from x-ray/bath and the drip is restarted then that should be fine as long as there was no resistance when the flush was done. many places do not use heparin flushes and just to plain saline ones as the heparin will not break down a clot!

drugs such as streptokinases break down a clot NOT heparin!

if you try to do an IV flush and you have resistance/a gravity drip is not dripping - STOP! get your instructor or an RN to come help you before you do anything else!