Just wants to get recommendations from the experts, what other tricks do you do to check patency and proper functioning of a midline?
It's just the hardest access to check blood return from, what do you guys do? Remove it if no blood return , especially for confused and non verbal patient? Any suggestions are appreciated.
INS standards to check blood return prior to Use.??? The rest of the other lines are achievable but not the midlines, could happen the next day you had inserted it.
First make sure you are measuring catheter to vein ratio and inserting a midline that only consumes a third of vein diameter. Ensure correct midline tip location which is NOT in the shoulder area. It should be level with the axilla or armpit which is not the same as the axillary vein. Use slow gentle aspiration on the syringe. Use a 5 mL or even a 3 mL syringe. Pulling too hard and fast and a large syringe on any VAD can occlude blood return. Visualize tip with US while flushign with saline. You should see a sparkle effect inside vein. If all that fails, then you have a serious decision to make including what are you infusing, its irritant properties, remaining length of time for therapy, any other patient complaints or signs and symptoms of any complication.
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