What are all of you doing regarding drawing PTT's through a central line?  Do you stop the med? How long? Do you use a lumen that the med is not infucing through (if possible)? How much waste? How much flush?
This question refers to the pt. polulation in which a peripheral stick is not possible.
As always, thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Lisa
Are you using heparin lock solution in these lines? If so, your lab data may not be accurate. An NIH study reported that it required a discard volume of 25 mL before they were able to get correct values on coag studies. Here is the reference:
1. Mayo DJ, Dimond EP, Kramer W, McDonald KH. Discard volumes necessary for clinically useful coagulation studies from heparinized Hickman catheters. Oncology Nursing Forum. 1996;23(4):671-675.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
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