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:
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Delays in critical patient care.
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Increased risk of infection.
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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.
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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 Significantly
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
significantly reduce all types of reflux into a catheter, and
reducing reflux has been clinically shown to help reduce
occlusions.
Reducing Catheter Occlusions with the Neutron Catheter Patency
Device May Provide Real-Time Clinical Benefits
Avoid Delays in Critical Patient Care
Neutron may help avoid delays in therapy of critical intravenous
medications (e.g., antibiotics and oncolytics), nutritional
support, and blood products.
Avoid Patient Discomfort and Pain
Neutron may help avoid patient discomfort and pain caused by
unnecessary needlesticks, catheter restarts, and manipulating the
IV site.
Because Neutron reduces the risk of thrombotic occlusions,
patients may be less likely to require the use of declotting
agents.
Avoid Unnecessary Costs
Neutron may help minimize unnecessary costs that add up when
treating an occlusion, such as:
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Cost of staff time related to clinical intervention.
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Cost of t-PA or other declotting agents.
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Wasted medications such as time-sensitive oncolytics and blood
products.
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Increased patient stay from interruptions in therapy and
catheter restarts.
Help Reduce Risk of Infection
In addition to taking advantage of ICU Medical's patented design
features shown to provide a safe and effective microbial barrier,
Neutron may help reduce the risk of infection by:
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Preventing thrombosis, which is a breeding ground for
infection.
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Minimizing IV line manipulation as an entry point for
bacteria.
