Can anyone provide documented evidence about the number of days a triple/quad lumen catheter can remain in the patient? We have been operating under the premise that 14 days should be the limit; however, I cannot find evidence to support that practice. Thanks
There are no recommended dwell time limitations on any type of catheter except short peripheral catheters. For all others, the optimum dwell time is unknown because no studies have ever tried to look at this issue. So the standard is to leave them in as long as they are clinically necessary, it is properly functioning, and there are no signs or symptoms of any complications. CDC guidelines makes a statement that optimum dwell time is unknown. We do know that multiple lumen catheters have a greater risk of infection because more lumens to manage equals greater risk. So strict attention to proper hub management is mandatory. 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
I cna't speak for any CVC other than the Arrow, but this CVC is indicated for short term central venous access. Per the FDA, short-term indication is any dwell time less than 30 days and long-term indication is anything greater than 30days.
Cheryl Kelley RN
Teleflex Medical
Cheryl Kelley RN BSN, VA-BC
While Cheryl is absolutely correct on this FDA regulation, this only applies to what the manufacturers can say about this product. The FDA does not control clinical practice and decisions made by healthcare professionals. Many of the implanted ports and tunneled catheter fall into this same group but we know these catheters dwell for years. The fact still remains that there is no clinical data looking at the point in time when X % of catheters have failed from a catheter-related reason. This is also known as the Kaplan-Meier Product Limit Estimator, which you have seen in studies on short peripheral catheters. We simply do not have this data on any other type of catheter, regardless of how many lumens it has. 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
Are you referring to a PICC or non-tunnelled CVC?
The manufacturer's instructions for use will help to define this dwell time for you. If it is an Arrow catheter, I can send those to you if you would like, [email protected]
Chris Cavanaugh, RN, BSN, CRNI, VA-BC