I have had IV meds for a year and not a problem until tonight. While doing my daily flush, I could get saline thru, but then Heprin wouldn't go in. Wierd. If there was a block, the saline shouldn't have gone thru. So, I changed out the clave at the end so I know that's not the problem. Tried again with saline, thinking maybe it was the particular Heprin syringe. No go. I know not to force it. It's definitely blocked somewhere. My question is can this wait until the morning or do I need to head to ER. ??
posted
To my surprise, heard back from doc within minutes. No need to rush off to ER. Will see him in the AM to assess. Sorry to bother you all. Was freaking out.
posted
They can put a medication called 'Urokinase' into your central line, leave it in for about five minutes and withdraw the Urokinase with a syringe. This medication will hopefully break up the clot or blockage.
This works the vast majority of the time.
-------------------- Wrinkles only go where the smiles have been --J. Buffett
All of my replies should not be taken as medical advice as they are my opinions only and I am not a physician. Posts: 55 | From Florida | Registered: Oct 2012
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posted
They usually use cathflo to clear out my port. Try taking some proteolytic enzymes daily. Sometimes it is our thicker blood that blocks the line.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Anyone hear back from Lovemykids? Was the Hickman catheter fixed at the doctor's office? Did they have to replace the line?
As Faithful said, Cathflo (aka "Altepase/Activase") is what the hospitals and doctor's offices usually use to clear clots or fibrin sheaths out of ports and off the ends of our catheters.
Urokinase caused more side effects and bleeding so it is not typically used for this here in the USA. Other countries like it and still use it as both a locking solution and a clot busting solution.
Faithful mentioned taking proteolytic enzymes daily to keep the blood thinner, to prevent fibrin from building up. Another way to help prevent clots is to make sure that you are flushing adequately.
After she has a blood draw, use at least 2 10cc saline syringes to flush all the blood out of the line. If the cap is clear and you see that it is not clean yet, go ahead and flush again.
What helps me too is to do 2 saline flushes between antibiotics if I am running them back to back and when I am done to end with 2 saline flushes then lock with my 5cc 100u heparin syringe.
To make sure that her Hickman is working well, you should always have quick/easy blood return and be able to flush easily without resistance. If you continue to have problems with the Hickman even though you've tried all the preventative measures you and your doctor can think of, you might ask your doctor for a standing order for weekly Cathflo.
A home health nurse can instill the cathflo once weekly at home as a preventative to keep the clots/fibrin sheaths from building up. That way your Hickman will remain functional at all times for al long as you need it.
These are just some thoughts, I hope that you are home and all is well.
Take care.
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