The national standards from INS state to measure the length upon removal. This should be documented after comparison to the inserted length to ensure that the entire length was removed. I am eager to see how many people are actually meeting this standard. Lynn
Yes, we measure the removed catheter and compare with what was inserted. Have never NOT removed an entire catheter at end of therapy in 17 years of PICCs as our institution, but we still measure!
We always measure.....and in over 20 yrs of exclusive practice of infusion nursing (mostly management) have had several instances of catheter breakage requiring IR intervention and one surgical intervention where catheter had adhered to to the wall of the vein and broke off. It happens!
Carol Sweeney, CRNI, Vice President of Nursing & Clinical Compliance ContinuumRx
Were these polyurethane catheters or silicone? I can see it happening with silicone, but boy, polyurethane is REALLY tough and strong. I would think that anyone needing to use that much force to remove a PICC that it causes it to rupture should have stopped attempting removal a long time before that point! That situation may require a cutdown to remove it.
Our nurse's are instructed to NOT remove a line unless they know how long it was when it went in. There is a cm measurement on the patient's record. They look at the line when it's removed to assure the measurement is the same as at insertion.
The national standards from INS state to measure the length upon removal. This should be documented after comparison to the inserted length to ensure that the entire length was removed. I am eager to see how many people are actually meeting this standard. Lynn
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
Yes, we measure the removed catheter and compare with what was inserted. Have never NOT removed an entire catheter at end of therapy in 17 years of PICCs as our institution, but we still measure!
Wendy Erickson RN
Eau Claire WI
we do.
Mari Cordes, BS RNIII VA-BC
Vascular Access Department
University of Vermont Medical Center
We also check length on removal.
Angela
We measure but do not always get the inserted length in the paper work we have for admission to home health and hospice to compare.
Valorie Dunn,BSN, RN, CRNI, PLNC
We measure on D/C Unless we see a colored tip, which means the cath was not cut
Celia Brown
We always measure.....and in over 20 yrs of exclusive practice of infusion nursing (mostly management) have had several instances of catheter breakage requiring IR intervention and one surgical intervention where catheter had adhered to to the wall of the vein and broke off. It happens!
Carol Sweeney, CRNI, Vice President of Nursing & Clinical Compliance ContinuumRx
Were these polyurethane catheters or silicone? I can see it happening with silicone, but boy, polyurethane is REALLY tough and strong. I would think that anyone needing to use that much force to remove a PICC that it causes it to rupture should have stopped attempting removal a long time before that point! That situation may require a cutdown to remove it.
Wendy Erickson RN
Eau Claire WI
Our nurse's are instructed to NOT remove a line unless they know how long it was when it went in. There is a cm measurement on the patient's record. They look at the line when it's removed to assure the measurement is the same as at insertion.