Replacing Huber needle

[TERN2016]

Quick question. I know that Huber needle/dressing change should be changed weekly for a port according to our policies, but if you are just re-accessing immediately after de-accessing the Huber needle, do we still flush with heparin? Because then we are going to be flushing the heparin when we place the new Huber needle, right?

[MunoRN, RN]

Weekly dressing changes for accessed ports is pretty standard, but why are you de-accessing and then re-accessing weekly?

[TERN2016]

For inpatients who are staying for over a week and needing the Huber needle to be replaced.

[MunoRN, RN]

I personally wouldn't change the needle at all since that only has the potential to do more harm than good, the old-school 7 day change rule is one of many embarrassing moment in the history nursing practice recommendations, but to answer your question no, there wouldn't be any reason to lock the line with heparin prior to changing the needle, so long as you flush the line after placing the new needle.

[Wuzzie]

We change the needle(s) weekly with the dressing change. We do not use Heparin in accessed ports. We lock them with saline. We use Heparin only when we are de-accessing and not intending to re-access immediately. This if for ambulatory patients. YMMV.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

Inpatient pediatrics here, we also change the needle weekly with a dressing change, unless they are specifically on a 10-day protocol. If we intend to immediately reaccess, we only saline lock them. If we are going to deaccess, then they plan on showering, strolling around the unit, going to the playroom, etc then we will use heparin.