What are the recommendations as far as use of a positive pressure LAD on arterial sheaths/arterial lines? Is there anything as far as literature or anecdotal to validate use of positive pressure connectors on these lines?
What are the recommendations as far as use of a positive pressure LAD on arterial sheaths/arterial lines? Is there anything as far as literature or anecdotal to validate use of positive pressure connectors on these lines?
I have never seen any studies about using any needleless connector on arterial catheters of any kind. There may be some but I can't think of any. Also, I do not consider the use of the word "pressure" to be appropriate when describing these devices. They displace fluid but they do not involve the application of pressure and I have serious doubts that the ones with positive fluid displacement would be sufficient to overcome arterial pressure. Also the positive displacement devices do not actually prevent the backflow of blood into the catheter lumen. Blood reflux still happens and the connector merely pushes the blood back into the bloodstream, and thus I have serious doubts about them working on an arterial catheter. 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