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Int J Angiol 2003; 12(1): 59-61
DOI: 10.1007/s00547-003-0952-z
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

New Technique For Declotting Central Venous Catheters (CVCs) by Recovery Room Nurse

Rajinder P. Sharma, Chung Ja Ree
  • Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
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Publication History

Publication Date:
26 April 2011 (online)

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Abstract

In the last two years 307 patients were treated for occluded CVCs in the recovery room of Special Procedures. Of the 307 patients, there were 191 patients with a single lumen catheter (62%), 24 patients with a double lumen catheter (8%), 10 patients with a triple lumen catheter (3%), 66 patients with a single chest port (21%), 5 patients with a double chest port (2%), and 1 patient with a dialysis chest port access system (0.3%). All patients received 2 mg/2 ml dose of rt-PA except the patient with the dialysis port system, who was treated with 3 mg/3 ml of rt-PA. The in catheter dwelling times of the rt-PA were 30 minutes (289 of 307; 94%) and 60 minutes (18 of 307; 4%). A unique technique utilizing the proper placement of the needle, 3-way stopcocks, and creation of negative pressure is described. Out of the 307 patients, 300 (97.7%) had restored patency with free flow of blood of their CVCs.

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