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Carole Fuseck
Trialysis Catheter

Is there any recent research I might have missed that excludes an RN from taking routine care of the third port of a Trialysis Catheter?  I mean, flushing at routine intervals when not in use, and clearing the catheter port/lumen with CathFlo when required.  With improvements in CVAD care for CLABSI prevention I believe the third "pigtail"/lumen can be cared for safely by the RN just as any other CVAD.

Thoughts? Research?  Practices?

Thank you.

Carole

lynncrni
 Care and maintenance of

 Care and maintenance of hemodialysis catheters is addressed in the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice. I am not aware of any publications tht prohibits nurses from providing this care, provided there is documented competency. I would suggest checking the K-DOQI Guidelines and any recommendations from the American Nephrology Nurses Association. I do think that routine use of any HD catheter for medication infusion should be restricted to emergency situations because routine use could add to the accummulation of fibrin/biofilm in the lumens. This could slow down the acheivable rates of flow for dialysis. 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

Carole Fuseck
Thank you for your

Thank you for your response.

We do not routinely use the Dialysis catheters for all the reasons you listed.  I am specifically referring to a temporary dialysis catheter with 3 ports; the extra "pigtail" or lumen being used for central IV access because the patient is on dialysis and also needs venous access.  Some of our staff are neglecting this with routine care because it is "a dialysis catheter".  I think we probably need to address this in-house with P & P revisions and staff education.

Thanks,

Carole

lynncrni
 Defintiely! Does not really

 Defintiely! Does not really matter if it is long or short term HD, someone has got to be taking care of the line. 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

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