Flushing Your Catheter - The James

Transcription

1 PATIENT EDUCATION patienteducation.osumc.edu To keep your catheter from clogging, it should be flushed with a normal saline solution. Flushing clears any blood or medicine from inside the lumen, so it will not clot or get blocked. Flush with 0.9% normal saline when the catheter is not in use: Each day Each week As directed by your care team Flush the catheter with 0.9% normal saline if you see blood in the catheter. Flush the catheter before and after each time medicine is given. Use a heparin flush solution after the saline, as ordered by your doctor. Supplies for Saline Flush Here are the supplies you will need: Prefilled 10 ml saline syringe or A 26 gauge needle and 10 ml syringe and 10 ml bottle of saline Never use a syringe smaller than 10 ml because it may put too much pressure on your catheter and damage it. Other supplies you will need: Alcohol pads ChloraPrep pad, if needed Disinfectant household cleaner spray This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care. June 27, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

2 Paper towels Container for used needle and syringe Trash can Getting the Flush Solution Ready NOTE: If you are using prefilled syringes, go to page 5 and follow the instructions under the section, Flushing the Catheter. If you need to get the saline syringe ready to do the flush, follow these steps: 1. Wash off the surface where you will place your supplies with the disinfectant household cleaner spray and a paper towel. Let the surface air dry. 2. Wash your hands well with soap and warm water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 3. Lay out your supplies on the clean, dry surface. 4. If a new bottle of saline is used, take off the plastic lid. 5. Clean the top of the saline bottle with an alcohol pad. Scrub the rubber top with the pad for about 15 seconds to clean it well. 6. Attach the needle to the syringe. Do not touch the hub of the needle or the tip of the syringe. If the needle is already attached to the syringe, make sure it is secure by twisting the needle onto the syringe.

3 7. Remove the needle cover. 8. Pull back on the plunger of the syringe to fill the syringe with 10 ml of air. The black line of the rubber piece attached to the plunger should be on the line next to the number 10 on the syringe. 9. Stick the needle into the rubber top of the saline bottle. Push the plunger down to put the air into the bottle.

4 10. Turn the bottle, with the needle in, upside down. 11. Pull back on the plunger to fill the syringe with 10 ml of saline. Keep the needle below the fluid level. 12. Check for air bubbles. Hold the syringe straight up and tap the syringe barrel with your knuckles. The bubbles should go to the top of the syringe. 13. Push any air back into the bottle by pushing on the plunger. If needed, pull back on the plunger to get the correct amount of saline in the syringe. 14. Remove the needle from the bottle. 15. Carefully put the cover back on the needle. Be careful not to stick yourself. Lay the syringe down until you are ready to flush the catheter.

5 Flushing the Catheter 1. Wash your hands well with soap and warm water or use alcohol based hand sanitizer. 2. Get your flush solution and an alcohol pad. 3. Scrub the catheter cap with an alcohol pad for at least 15 to 30 seconds, then let the cap dry. 4. If you have a clamp on your catheter, open the clamp. 5. Pick up the syringe with the saline solution. If there is a needle on the syringe, twist it off. Do not touch the end of the syringe. 6. Twist the syringe onto the catheter cap. Invert the syringe and pull back slightly to remove any trapped air from the cap. 7. Push the plunger slowly to flush the saline through the catheter. If it is hard to push in the saline, stop and call your nurse or doctor.

6 8. After the saline goes in, untwist the syringe from the catheter cap. 9. If you have blood taken from the catheter through the cap, you need to flush the catheter with 20 ml of saline through the cap. 10. If your catheter is to be clamped, close the clamp after untwisting the syringe from the cap. 11. Throw all used needles and syringes into a puncture proof container. 12. Wash your hands well with soap and warm water or use alcoholbased hand sanitizer.