Manual
5
Dressing Change:
1. The dressing should be changed according to hospital or institutional protocol.
2. Ensure that there are no kinks in the tubing and lay the catheter against the patient’s skin.
3. Ensure that the portion of catheter outside of the body corresponds to previous catheter
measurement.
4. Using the same technique as described in “Securing the Catheter”, apply the dressing.
5. Once dressing is changed, check the entire I.V. tubing and pump setup to ensure the system is
owing freely at the prescribed rate.
6. Document the procedure, any observations, and patient’s condition.
Flushing:
Flush catheter with heparinized saline using positive pressure technique according to hospital or
institutional protocol. Check the prime volume printed on the catheter or the instructions for use to
help determine ushing volumes.
Occluded or Partially Occluded Catheter:
Catheters that present resistance to ushing and aspiration may be partially or completely
occluded. Do not ush against resistance. If the lumen will neither ush nor aspirate and it has
been determined that the catheter is occluded with blood, it is recommended that the catheter be
replaced.
Catheter Removal:
Typically, the catheter can be easily removed. To remove it, grasp the catheter and draw it straight
out, in a line parallel to the vein.
Note: In some cases, the catheter will oer resistance upon removal, generally when it has been
in place for more than ve days. If resistance is encountered, pull gently on the catheter and
re-tape. The catheter should be checked every four hours until it can be removed without diculty.
Additionally, warm compresses applied at and above the insertion site may aid in catheter removal.