Clogged lines

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Central lines will sometimes stop allowing blood to be drawn back for labs, despite flushing and infusing fine. Potential causes include:

  • the end of the line sucking against the inside of the blood vessel (like the end of a soda straw on your finger)
  • a small clot that acts like a flapper valve over the end of the line
  • migration of the end of the line

The line may also stop allowing flow in either direction, due to one of the causes above, or:

  • antibiotic clogging the line (this happened for Max with rifampin)
  • buildup of precipitate
  • lipid deposits

Treatments/tests include:

  • X-ray/contrast dye study to check the placement of the line
  • TPA treatment to try to break up clots
  • Hydrochloric acid to break up calcium deposits
  • Ethanol lock to help get rid of what may be stuck in the biofilm of the catheter
  • Heparin shots to thin the blood if a clot is discovered outside the line
  • NSK-SD (nattokinase from fermented soybeans that has vitamin K removed) -- one parent on the short bowel syndrome yahoo group has started to provide this as an oral supplement to her son to preventatively up-regulate the body's ability to dissolve fibrin clots. Nutrishare is looking into this.

If the line needs to be pulled, a temporary line may be placed before the next central line is put in. When the new line is placed, a biopatch (antibiotic circular pad that goes around the exit site and under the dressing) may be prescribed for the first couple weeks.

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