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Wendy Erickson RN
VAMP Use on PICC Lines

Is anyone using VAMPS (Venous/Arterial Blood Management Protection System) on PICC lines for blood sampling?  I would like to hear the Pros and Cons.  Critical Care nurses are asking about it and I don't know enough about them to give the OK. 

Thanks!  Wendy

Susan S
Sounds interesting. 

Sounds interesting.  Unfortunately i have NO idea what that is eitherso I can be of no assistance.  Who is the manufacturer of the device? and Have you asked them for information as a place to start.  I suppose no one else who has read this so far knows anything either.

 

Is this what they are asking about?

http://www.edwards.com/Products/PressureMonitoring/VAMPSystem.htm

 

 

Susan Schuetrumpf, RN, CRNI, VA-BC
Atlanta GA

Wendy Erickson RN
Yes, it is made by Edwards

Yes, it is made by Edwards Lifesciences.  I have the product information and it says "To be used only for blood withdrawal.  The blood sampling system is for use on patients requiring periodic withdrawal of blood samples from arterial and central line catheters that are attached to pressure monitoring lines."  It does not mention PICCs, one way or the other.

I have had some further converstations and a couple things stand out to us.  If this device is attached to one lumen of a PICC, that lumen cannot be used for anything else, only blood draws.  We usually need all lumens for drips, infusions etc.

Second, the device withdraws a waste volume of blood that is held in a resorvoir while the blood sample is obtained and then reinfused into the PICC - our policy is to ALWAYS discard waste samples.

The more I look at it, the less I like the idea of it on a PICC but would be really interested to hear from anyone else out there that uses them on PICCs!

Wendy Erickson RN
Eau Claire WI

kratz
Karen Ratz,RN St. Lukes

Karen Ratz,RN St. Lukes Hospital, Cedar Rapids,IA

Our ICU started using the VAMP on our PICC lines. They were getting some inaccurate values compared to venous samples. We contacted Edwards Life science with our concern. They told us that using a VAMP on a PICC line is an "off label" use. They have not done studies with PICC lines. Needless to say , we stopped using it on our PICC's.

Karen Ratz,RN, VA-BC Unity Point St. Lukes Hospital, Cedar Rapids,IA

Wendy Erickson RN
Thanks so much - this is
Thanks so much - this is what I needed to know.  Wendy

Wendy Erickson RN
Eau Claire WI

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