How To Unclog A Picc Line

When it is not possible to aspirate blood there is a reason.

How to unclog a picc line. I don t know how common place this is. After washing hands and applying gloves 8. If no blood returns connect the syringe with the alteplase and instill the alteplase into the catheter. Use a saline filled 3 cc syringe to flush the line.

Disconnect the syringe and clamp the catheter tubing. Generally it takes very little force on the plunger. The researchers are trying to prove that taking a 10cc syringe with 1ml of saline pulling back and releasing causing a pop sound and then aspirating the clots will unclog a picc line safely. Leave for 60 minutes.

Wash your hands well with soap and warm water. Attach a 10 ml syringe to the hub. After this time attempt withdrawal of blood. No need for a heparin flush.

Attempt to aspirate for a blood return. Do this before and after handling any of your catheter equipment to help prevent infections. If you don t have access to soap and water use an alcohol based hand gel. Picc peripherally inserted central catheter is a catheter that terminates in the superior vena cava svc.

Matt silver san diego kaiser permanente medical center for this tip which also applies to flushing any clotted peripheral line. Malposition of the catheter and deep vein thrombosis dvt are a concern when blood aspiration is not possible. Wet your hands with warm water and rub soap between them for 20 seconds. The problem must be resolved.

If the thing is clogged with say lr or d5 solutions try pulling back the syringe and get blood in the line then push it back in repeat twice then use a good saline flush. Only touch your picc line with clean hands or when wearing clean gloves. Using aseptic technique clean the catheter hub with an approved antimicrobial solution. The gel should have at least 60 alcohol.

Blood itself will help clear some of the solution but you have to do a good job of pushing the blood back out of the line. We have always used the 3 way stopcock method to declot picc lines â recently we had an inservice by the cathflo rep in which we were instructed in the single syringe method â in reading the product information the procedure says to instill the appripriate dose of cathflo into the occluded catheter using a 10 12 cc syringe â i am concerned about the word instill if the line is. Wash your hands before and after handling the catheter equipment. Instill the appropriate dose of cathflo into the occluded catheter using a 10 ml syringe see dosing chart.

Then rinse your hands thoroughly and pat them dry with a clean towel.