Topic: having a freak out about the sterility of my IV-help!
GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Hi, I just flushed my IV.
Only I did it wrong and took the clamp off first and blood came up the line and dripped all over everything.
When I finally got the syringe on it to flush it, somehow I managed to get blood in the syringe.
And then when I put the cap on the line in my arm, I noticed there's an air bubble in there now.
I am not too worried about the airbubble, because when I take the clamp off, it will flood the bubble out the cap-away from my body.
But I was supposed to keep the syringe sterile to use for flushing.
And now my blood is in it.
I can't use the syringe designated for my abx, as the heparin may precipitate the abx out.
So how do I clean this bloody syringe? Can I boil it?
The worst part is-the offices are closed.
And I have a lot of anxiety about this now and everytime I look at the line I feel faint.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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beths
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18864
posted
You should only use a syringe one time-don't you have extra saline flushes? Flush the line, then clamp
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
"But I was supposed to keep the syringe sterile to use for flushing. And now my blood is in it."
Your blood is sterile.
Do you have extra syringes and needles? When I worked in the hospital, we often put a new needle on a syringe if we thought we may have contaminated the needle.
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
I don't. But the needle wasn't on it for the flush-just the plastic part of the syringe screwed onto the plastic port.
I rinsed it best I could with sterile saline.
My anxiety is a bit less hearing that my blood is sterile-you're right.
That makes me feel better.
Yes, I have 125 mL of saline and heparin mixture to flush with every 4 hours.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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Carol in PA
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You should have some extra new syringes on hand, in case of a problem like this.
Can you buy some?
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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canbravelyme
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Member # 9785
posted
Guys, are you all re-using your syringes? When you re-cap the syringe after use, was the cap sterile?
Gives me the creeps, frankly
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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lax mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38743
posted
I wouldn't reuse syringes. I know money may be a factor, but saline flushes are cheap.
canbravelyme
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Member # 9785
posted
I wouldn't reuse any syringe, but I certainly wouldn't reuse one that had blood in it -- sure, it was sterile while you did the procedure, but blood has protein in it, and bacteria will grow!
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
I just did another flush now with the other syringe. I just didn't feel comfortable using the one that had had blood in it.
Yes, the cap remained sterile.
Before i use it tomorrow for my abx I will rinse it with saline so the heparin won't interact.
Yes, from here on out I will be using a new syringe every 4 hours.
I don't like the idea of reusing. Especially when I did a boo boo and got blood in it.
I don't care how much it costs-it will be worth it not to get an infection and for my peace of mind.
This whole thing gives me the willies.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
You are never supposed to recap syringes, they don't remain sterile unless you put on a brand new sterile cap that you just removed from the wrapper. You can't take off the cap and then replace that old cap, that is not sterile.
I agree with the others, always have extra flushes on hand for accidents and incidents like this. Things happen when you least expect it and you need and extra every now and then. Infusion co's don't like to send them out but you pay for them and it is for your best safety to have them so ask.
Glad you got it all worked out last night!
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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sammy
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Member # 13952
posted
Also, don't you have an endcap on the end of your line to keep blood from coming out of the line and air from going into the line?
You really should be using them on the end of your line. These get changed once a week with the dressing change. Ask your nurse or your infusion co about them. They help prevent blood clots and air embolisms.
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posted
a small bubble like that will not cause an air emboli.
Posts: 803 | From USA | Registered: Oct 2013
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lax mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38743
posted
Something doesn't sound right about blood flowing out of the line. I don't remember that ever even closely happening when my husband had a PICC.
canbravelyme
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Member # 9785
posted
What I understood is she had the cap on the lumen off while it was unclamped -- if that's the case, it would be normal for blood to come out -- but you know, I had valves on my caps that prevented that, I think?
Greta, you need to sit down with a nurse who you're confident has a thorough understanding of sterile fields and maintains PICC lines and have them go over maintenance with you (and get you the supplies you need)
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Thanks you guys for all your tips and concerns.
I do have a cap on the line, and also a clamp. But my lyme brain got things fuddled and I took those off before I got the flush on the line, that is why the blood came out.
Blech! Still queasy when I think of it.
Yes, my doc is at ILADS, so another doc gave me my supplies.
I am not comfortable reusing the syringes or the needles to poke into my bag of heparin saline flush.
I alcohol wipe everything but what's the point if it's the same needle going in.
it's like double dipping into dip at a party.
I have to flush every 4 hours-so 24 syringes each time.
I don't know what they cost, but I feel it would be a good investment to use a new syringe each time. Or at the very least a new needle.
This has been quite the learning experience.
Today I administer my own IV bag and mix my abx.
it's the first time doing it myself-all the other times were with the doc.
I hope it goes smoothly.
Thanks again for your tips and support. Very much appreciated.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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lax mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38743
posted
Hoping things do go better today.
It must be very difficult doing the IV yourself. I did everything for my husband and it all overwhelmed ME and I wasn't the IV patient!
posted
Are you taking any proteolytic enzymes? You must especially when doing IV. With Lyme usually the blood is thicker and will clot easier. The best prices are at greenandhealthy.com. You will have to ask if they ship to Canada but I am pretty sure they do. I use Bolouke which is Lumbrokinase.
If you use the proteolytic enzymes, you should not have to flush like that. I had some clot issues with my port in the beginning and as soon as I started taking the enzymes, they went away.
Saline flushes are the cheapest at JRSmedical.com. I think you get 200 of them for around $100.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
Before buying anything, you should find out from the doctor who put in your PICC line what kind of flushes the PICC line is designed for -- the one I had was specifically designed for saline; when I asked, I was told that others were designed for heparin.
On second thought, it might have been the hospital that adopted the policy -- either way, make sure you're using the right flushes
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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gmb
Unregistered
posted
If you have a picc do you follow the SASH protocol?
GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Thanks for the link for the saline flushes, faithful.
That makes sense about clotting-I clot very fast-I don't bleed after they remove the needle when they take my blood.
I will look into those enzymes on greenandhealthy. I love that company. It has very fair prices.
I have a peripheral catheter-I get a new one weekly.
I have had them before thru the hospital but haven't had them before where I do it myself at home.
I really hate it.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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canbravelyme
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Member # 9785
posted
Yea; sorry you're going through this
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
heparin and saline do not interact. So you dont have to worry about that.
here is some food for thought...
when drawing blood from a central (picc) line from dogs and cats, in a sterile manner we would flush the line, and have a hep flush that only had 1/3 filled. We would draw out blood into this syringe and then get another syringe for a blood draw. Then we infuse the hep/blood mixture back in then flush again.
no pets died from that. but blood will grow bacteria fast. Do not reuse syringes!
also small air bubbles not a problem, it takes about 20 mls of air pushed in to cause a problem.
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GretaM
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Member # 40917
posted
OK, thanks for the info merrygirl.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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merrygirl
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Goodluck!
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