We have initiated a process for tighter glycemic control during the immediate post-operative period (until pts start eating). Patients are on insulin drips with sugars tested q30-60 min. As you can imagine, that's alot of finger sticks! We were trying to come up with a way to draw blood from 1) pre-exisiting lines 2) dedicated PIV cath
so that we would not be sticking patients so often. However, nurses are worried about drawing discards that often from CVCs. So relating to a PIV site dedicated for blood draws, I have questions: 1. How long will the site last (in your experience)? We only need it for 1-3 days. 2. Should heparin be used to flush this PIV cath with Clave directly on the hub, since we're doing frequent blood draws? 3. How much discard might we need to draw? TIA for your comments/answers. Donna Fritz ***************************************************************************** This communication is for the use of the intended recipient only. It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, any disclosure, copying, further distribution or use thereof is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please advise me by return e-mail or by telephone and delete/destroy it. *****************************************************************************
