Fwd: Eliminating heparin from peripheral flushes

[Martha Pike]

It's not the gauge of the catheter that's the problem - it's the lack of a positive pressure cap. The same amount of blood will be pulled back into all gauge catheters by the action of the injection cap valve - if you are not using anti-reflux caps. The 24's reach a state of full occlusion faster because the blood  travels farther up the catheter lumen due to narrow diameter. On Dec 8, 2005, at 7:15 PM, Rakay Dance wrote: 24 gauge catheters need to be flushed much more often to keep patent. In the NICU where I worked we had to change our policy to q2-3 hour flushes when we switched to saline from heparin because of the large number of clotted catheters.  Almost 100% clotted by 8 hours.  We were not using positive pressure valves at that time.  RaKay -----Original Message----- From: Tim Talbert [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]  Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 4:27 PM To: Janice Patten; Rakay Dance Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Eliminating heparin from peripheral flushes Why would the gauge of the catheter matter? Tim "Rakay Dance" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 12/8/05 >>> There is an article in the new INS journal stating that q24 flushing is best for PIV's on ambulatory patients but I wonder what size catheter they were using?  I would love it if it would work and I would try it with a 22 but not a 24.   RaKay -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]  [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Janice Patten Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 1:03 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]  Subject: Eliminating heparin from peripheral flushes One of JCAHO's proposed National Patient Safety Goals in 2007 is to eliminate heparin from flushing peripheral lines.  For patients in the home care setting, I'm just curious to see if you think lines will clot off in 24 hours if the line is used only once daily (e.g. for Invanz). Is it reasonable to make an extra nursing visit on unteachable patients to flush BID w/ saline? Jan Patten PharmD Director, Infusion Therapy Pathways Home Care (NorthEast Medical Center) 487 Lake Concord Road Concord, NC  28025 704 784-7116 office 704 786-2674 fax 704 773-0229 cell 704 723-8324 pager [EMAIL PROTECTED]  This electronic message may contain confidential information.  It is intended for the use of the individual(s) named as recipients in the message.  If you have received this message in error, please notify the person listed above immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message and attachments.  Do not disclose its contents or take any action in reliance on the information it contains.  Thank you. Notice from St.Joseph Health System: Please note that the information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure.