While attempting to draw blood from an indwelling arterial ...

[Medesa]

While attempting to draw blood from an indwelling arterial catheter, the respiratory therapist no-tices a dampened waveform and has difficulty withdrawing blood for sampling. What should the respiratory therapist's immediate action be?
 
  a. Flush the catheter.
  b. Remove the catheter.
  c. Reposition the catheter.
  d. Recalibrate the transducer.

Question 2

While checking an indwelling central venous pressure (CVP) catheter the respiratory therapist observes that the transducer is at the epistatic line. The respiratory therapist should do which of the following at this time?
 
  a. Zero the pressure transducer.
  b. Raise the pressure transducer.
  c. Accept the CVP reading obtained.
  d. Recalibrate the pressure transducer.

[bob]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The presence of both a persistently dampened waveform and difficulty withdrawing blood indi-cates that there is a clot. To avoid any adverse effects the catheter should be removed. Flushing the catheter could cause the blood clot to move into the patient's circulation and has the potential to cause an infarction in the brain, heart, or lungs. Repositioning the catheter will not remove the clot. Recalibrating the transducer will not remove the clot.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
The epistatic line is located at the mid-thoracic line. The central venous pressure (CVP) transduc-er needs to be placed at this line to accurately measure CVP. The epistatic line is located about 5 cm behind the angle of Louis. This is the place where the transducer must be zero-balanced. Since the transducer is at the epistatic line in this question the pressure measured will be accurate and should be accepted.

[Medesa]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[Jossy]

TYSM