Is it necessary to confirm blood return from a PICC prior to removing it? I recently tried to find the evidence to support this practice, but couldn't. Our policy currently calls for occlusion management if there is no blood return prior to removal. Can anyone help me with this issue?
Never seen that recommendation or even that question before. Many times, the lack of blood return is the reason for removal and the cause has already been identified with treatment attempted and failed. Occlusion could be inside the vein or inside the caheter lumen, but IMHO there is no reason to confirm a blood return before removal. Technically this would only be applicable when the therapy is completed and the line is no longer required for medical management. I am interested in the thought process that led to this policy. Is it a real written policy or an unwritten rule of thumb that everyone follows?
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
Thank you Lynn,
Your expert opinion is always appreciated. I am not sure where I originally heard it, but will asked to have the policy amended.
Kerry McDonald
K. McDonald RN, CVAA(c)