Author Question: Which of the following is not a common complication of systemic artery catheterization? a. ... (Read 46 times)

rl · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

Which of the following is not a common complication of systemic artery catheterization?

a. Phlebitis
b. Ischemia
c. Hematoma
d. Hemorrhage

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true concerning the insertion of a radial arterial line?

1. The catheter tip must face upstream.
2. The catheter tip must face downstream.
3. The transducer must be higher than the catheter tip.
4. The transducer must be level with the catheter tip.
a. 1 and 3 only
b. 1 and 4 only
c. 2 and 3 only
d. 2 and 4 only

bhavsar · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein. Since the catheter in this situation is in an artery, phlebitis is not possible as a result of a system artery catheterization. Ischemia, hematoma, and hemorrhage are all complications of systemic artery catheterization.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
When a catheter faces the source of blood flow it is looking upstream. An arterial line placed in the radial artery needs to face the blood flow to accurately measure pressures that are a result of left heart work. If the catheter faces downstream it reads the pressures ahead of it. To accurately measure pressure, the transducer needs to be at the same height or level with the tip of the cathe-ter. If the transducer is higher than the catheter tip the fluid will be flowing away from the transducer and will produce a reading lower than the actual pressure.