UAC line question

[Cassideca]

How often is the Heparin stopcock syringe changed on a UAc line at your facility ?

Sometimes it can get tinged from the blood aspirate, and looks dirty. Our policy is q24 hrs. Just curious to know from you who are so experienced!

I have only seen a baby w/ a UAc once in the 8 mos now on our floor. Just wondering!

Thanks- Dee

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

RE: PICCs, Broviacs What skin antiseptic do your units use for placement of these central lines? What antiseptic is used for line changes? How often do people change fluids and tubing for central lines?

PICCs and Broviacs: Chloraprep (chlorhexidine) is used as skin prep for all gestations.

UAC/UVCs and LPs are the only thing we use betadine for anymore.

When we change lines, I swab the entire tri-set with a chloraprep swab.

We change all lines running clear fluids q96h, TPN >10ml/hr q 96, TPN

[nicu4me]

Curious why I have seen posts that units are not using UAC's for meds, etc. We usually have both the UAC and UVC's. Level 3, no cardiacs - we send them out but everything else we keep. What is your EBR for not using them except for gases or bp monitoring? Just wondering if we are ahead or behind. Thanks

[twinkletoes53]

We don't use a closed system for UACs in our hospital. We use Heparin flushes attached to our UACs through stopcock. Dilution is 1:1 Heparin with 1/2 or 1/4 NS in a 5 ml. syringe. Each syringe is changed every 8 hours maximum. We swab the ports where we draw blood from with Chloraseptic wipes before and after blood draws. I place a sterile 4X4 on the bed, which is where I lay my syringes on.We change our UAC fluids every 72 hours.

[littleneoRN]

Curious why I have seen posts that units are not using UAC's for meds, etc. We usually have both the UAC and UVC's. Level 3, no cardiacs - we send them out but everything else we keep. What is your EBR for not using them except for gases or bp monitoring? Just wondering if we are ahead or behind. Thanks

To clarify, are you saying that you use your UAC to infuse medications???

[nicu4me]

Yes we use our UAC's all the time for meds

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

Curious why I have seen posts that units are not using UAC's for meds, etc. We usually have both the UAC and UVC's. Level 3, no cardiacs - we send them out but everything else we keep. What is your EBR for not using them except for gases or bp monitoring? Just wondering if we are ahead or behind. Thanks

The risk of air embolus is MUCH greater when infusing multiple drugs arterially. As is the risk of arteriospasm.

[NICURN29]

We use a VAMP system, and we do use a syringe to keep a flush attached to the line. However, our art line flush always comes in a 3mL syringe, and it is filled only to 2mL, so you could never accidentally bolus the baby. We change the syringe relatively often, whenever we run out of flush in it.

[NICURN29]

I should also add that we never infuse meds through an arterial line. We use the arterial line only for BP monitoring and blood draws.

We use UVCs, PICCs, or PIVs for medication infusion.