triple lumen flushing question

[lovingRN2009]

if a patient is recieving tpn through a triple lumen picc line, is it necessary at any time to flush the two lumens not in use?

[Deb123j]

We flush all piccs q8h, wether they are being used or not. hth

[Rexie68]

We flush any lumens not in use every 8 hours. Lumens in use aren't flushed until the tubing is changed or if we stop the infusion to draw labs. Speaking of flushing....has anyone else switched to 5 french triple lumens, and, if so....are they just as hard for you to flush?? We get call after call from the floor nurses thinking the ports are clotted and it's really just a hard flush. I think I'm getting a repetitive use injury from flushing them!

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Yes...they absolutely need to be flushed. Flush frequency recommendations vary..in most acute care setting the minimum is at least once daily. Generally speaking,valved PICCS have a lower recommended flushing frequency. If you leave an occluded lumen (caused by blood) and do not treat it the patient has increased risk for infection.....so you really need to be verifying a blood return and then flushing all lumens per your protocol. It is really a good idea to also flush before you hang any TPN and/ or TPN and Lipids,especailly the Lipids b/c they can also cause an occlusion. Another good reason is that you never know when you might need an available lumen...it would be a shame not to have b/c of poor nursing care.