Saline Flush
Encyclopedia
A saline flush is the method of clearing out feeding tubes and intravenous lines
(IVs) of any food, medicine, or other perishable liquids so that they can keep the area of entering clean and sterile. Typically in flushing a intravenous cannula, a 5ml syringe of saline
is emptied into the medication port of a the cannula's connecting hub after insertion. Blood left in the cannula or hub can lead to clots forming and blocking the cannula. Flushing is required before drip is connected to ensure that the IV is still patent.
Flushing is also used after medications are delivered by the medication port to ensure all the drug is delivered fully. If multiple medications are given through the same line flushing can be used in between drugs to ensure that the medicines won't react. This is especially important if complex regimes of intravenous medication is used such as in chemotherapy
.
Flushing with saline should be painless if the cannula is in its proper place, although if the saline is not warmed there may be a cold sensation running up the vein. A painful flush may indicate tissuing
or phlebitis
and is an indication that the cannula should be relocated.
Solutions other than plain saline may be used. Heparinised
saline may be used in flushing arterial lines, to prevent clotting and blockage of the line.
Intravenous therapy
Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals...
(IVs) of any food, medicine, or other perishable liquids so that they can keep the area of entering clean and sterile. Typically in flushing a intravenous cannula, a 5ml syringe of saline
Saline (medicine)
In medicine, saline is a general term referring to a sterile solution of sodium chloride in water but is only sterile when it is to be placed intravenously, otherwise, a saline solution is a salt water solution...
is emptied into the medication port of a the cannula's connecting hub after insertion. Blood left in the cannula or hub can lead to clots forming and blocking the cannula. Flushing is required before drip is connected to ensure that the IV is still patent.
Flushing is also used after medications are delivered by the medication port to ensure all the drug is delivered fully. If multiple medications are given through the same line flushing can be used in between drugs to ensure that the medicines won't react. This is especially important if complex regimes of intravenous medication is used such as in chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
.
Flushing with saline should be painless if the cannula is in its proper place, although if the saline is not warmed there may be a cold sensation running up the vein. A painful flush may indicate tissuing
Infiltration (medical)
Infiltration is the diffusion or accumulation of substances not normal to it or in amounts in excess of the normal. The material collected in those tissues or cells is called infiltrate.-Classification:...
or phlebitis
Phlebitis
Phlebitis is an inflammation of a vein, usually in the legs.When phlebitis is associated with the formation of blood clots , usually in the deep veins of the legs, the condition is called thrombophlebitis...
and is an indication that the cannula should be relocated.
Solutions other than plain saline may be used. Heparinised
Heparin
Heparin , also known as unfractionated heparin, a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan, is widely used as an injectable anticoagulant, and has the highest negative charge density of any known biological molecule...
saline may be used in flushing arterial lines, to prevent clotting and blockage of the line.