Improving practices to prevent and manage CVAD occlusion, by Associate Professor Amanda Ullman   What do you think is the most common CVAD dysfunction in healthcare? Reading journal articles you'll see most researchers and clinicians focussing on bloodstream infection and thrombosis. But - catheter occlusion, or blockage, is 5 times more common than both of these complications. CVADs are essentially long, narrow tubes, through which we frequently administer viscous fluids, ...

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For the postgraduate student, vascular access clinician, or industry professional wanting to beef up their knowledge of vascular access, the Griffith University Vascular Access Devices And Intravenous Therapy: Transforming Evidence course could be the next best step in your career.
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Needleless connectors are commonly used with continuous infusions, but is this best practice? Back in the not-so-good ol' days when we knew less about bloodstream infections, we'd quickly wipe the rubber cap with an alcohol wipe before connecting a needle to the secondary line and inserting this into the primary line via the rubber cap. We then applied paper tape to keep it in place for the duration of the medication administration. Needlestick injuries were common! Needleless conne...

This excellent evidence round-up from Sarah Chapman at Cochrane covers everything you want to know about the latest evidence for CVC management: Heparin vs normal saline for flushing CVCs Infection prevention measures Antimicrobial-impregnated CVCs Skin antisepsis Dressings Frequency of changing the administration set Prophylactic antibiotics https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/central-venous-catheter-cvc/#comment-373651 ...

Needle-stick injuries in healthcare works are a serious issue that pose a risk of transmission of blood borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis viruses. To reduce the risk of Needle-stick injuries, needleless connectors (NC) were developed. However, NCs are not without their own set of issues. The use of NCs has been associated with an increase in patient blood-stream infections (BSI). Evidence suggests that this is due to the design of the NC impacting ease of decontamination, as complia...

Addie, an 8-month old infant with osteomyelitis, needs IV access for 3 weeks of antibiotics. What device will best ensure successful therapy and low risk of complications? Liam, a 14 year old with cystic fibrosis, is hospitalized for the third time this year with an acute exacerbation. Despite multiple efforts by experienced clinicians, an IV cannot be successfully placed in a peripheral vein. Frustrated, the nurse says, "Let's just put in a PICC". Is this the best cho...

As more and more patients in the world are receiving medical treatment via intravenous infusions, the task of establishing a reliable form of vascular access becomes more challenging. With the advent of improved technology of ultrasound and vein visualization technology clinicians are embracing the ability to find veins and effectively guide needles into the veins in real time. All levels of clinicians, nurses, doctors, junior doctors, and medical students are using visualization technologi...

Here, guest blogger from the UK, Maya Guerrero, RN, VACNS (@CNS_IVnurse) presents her recent experience playing a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in a Critical Care COVID19-positive patient in prone position, using ECG technology. What first was a "daunting idea" and a "scary thought process", planning the strategy I would take for the execution of my very first "PICC placement on a pronated-ventilated-patient" became what I would now consider a...

Getting to know AVATAR... This week, Vic from the Vascular Access Management Service discusses catheter-associated skin injury in paediatrics and offers tips for how paediatric nurses handle this common clinical issue.   Skin issues in children, a challenge for vascular access clinicians Hi, my name is Victoria. I'm a pediatric nurse working in access a common issue that our patient group seems to have is catheter Associated skinning pain and injury usually relat...