Has anyone noticed an increase in frequency of CVAD occlusions with patients receiving hyperbaric treatment? I work in the home health field and recently had several patients begin to have withdrawal occlusions after starting hyperbaric therapy. Perhaps it is a coincidence, but I wonder if there is any possibility that the increased air pressure is contributing to the increased frequency of occlusion. Thoughts?
There would have to be an increase in intrathoracic venous pressure to cause blood to flow retrograde into catheter lumen. Or to change the catheter tip location to a smaller vein. I don't think hyperbaric pressure would cause this, but I don't know enough about hyperbaric pressure to say. Hopefully others have experience with this.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861