The Clinical Impact of Central Line Catheter Occlusions
Catheter Occlusions Negatively Affect Patient
Care
Despite continued efforts by healthcare practitioners,
occlusions in central line catheters (CVCs and PICCs) remain a
significant issue that can result in:
-
Delays in critical patient care.
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Increased risk of infection.
-
Increase in healthcare costs.
Blood Reflux is a Key Cause of Catheter
Occlusions
One important cause of catheter occlusion is blood reflux,1 or when blood backs up into the
catheter.
-
Blood reflux can lead to an intraluminal thrombus, which may
result in an ability to infuse IV fluids/medications.
-
An occluded catheter may lead to an inability to withdraw
blood.
Current Technologies are Limited in Their Ability to
Reduce Reflux
Some devices on the market, including positive pressure
neddlefree connectors, attempt to address the problem. Positive
pressure devices only impact blood reflux when a syringe or
administration set is disconnected.
The Neutron Catheter Patency Device May Help You Signifcantly
Reduce Patient Care Risks Associated with Catheter
Occlusions
Maintaining catheter patency and minimizing occlusions
can be important steps in your efforts to enhance patient safety
and improve outcomes.
The Neutron catheter patency device is the
first and only FDA-cleared device shown to
signifcantly reduce all types of reflux into a catheter, and
reducing reflux has been clinically shown to help reduce
occlusions.
Neutron: Better By Design
Unique design allows Neutron to help prevent occlusions
by reducing reflux and maintaining catheter patency.
Because of an innovative design that incorporates a
bi-directional silicone valve that helps prevent reflux at all
times, Neutron helps maintain catheter patency during times when
traditional connectors have been shown to occlude most often.
Internal Causes
- Patient Vascular Pressure
- Changes caused by:
> Coughing > Sneezing > Movement
External Causes
- Connection/disconnection of a Luer
- IV Bag running dry/Infusion Pump stopping
- Syringe Plunger rebound
The Neutron incorporates ICU Medical's patented
split-septum silicone seal and straight internal fluid path
technology, clinically shown to provide a "significantly reduced
bacterial transfer rate." 3
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When Neutron is not being accessed, the silicone seal forms a
safe, swabbable barrier to bacterial ingress.
-
Upon luer access, the silicone seal is depressed and the fluid
path windows are exposed through the device's split-septum.
-
Fluid is either infused or aspirated through the connector and
catheter via the dedicated straight internal fluid path.
Technical Specs
Residual Volume: 0.1 mL
Flow Rate at Gravity: 100 mL / minute
Blood Compatibility: Yes
MRI Compatibility: Yes
High Pressure Compatibility:
10 mL / second
Drugs
Alcohol: Yes
Lipids: Yes
Chlorhexidine: Yes
Chemotherapy: Yes
