Page 126 - AACN Essentials of Critical-Care Nursing Pocket Handbook, Second Edition
P. 126

Aspirate blood from catheter; if   arterialized and obtained with  difficulty.  appears. If not wedged, gently aspirate and flush catheter with  damped PAW waveform.

                  Treatment  catheter is wedged, sample will be  If wedged, call physician to slowly pull  back catheter until PA waveform  saline; catheter tip can partially clot, causing damping that resembles  113








                     Check catheter tip by radiograph or   at insertion site.


                  Prevention  fluoroscopy; position in main right or left PA. Carefully secure catheter




               Problems Encountered with Pulmonary Artery Catheters (continued)




                     Forward migration of catheter tip  in RV, or inadequate suturing of  catheter at insertion site

                  Cause  caused by blood flow, excessive loop











                  Problem  Apparent wedging of   catheter with balloon


                        deflated
               4.18
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