5 Responses to “Gee… does that mean since every pill dispensed …”

Diane says:
December 7, 2007 at 11:37 pm
I am researching the affects of an over-dose of Heparin. A dear friends son, age approxiametly 12 years of age, went into cardiac arrest after receiving a “flush” to a “shunt” from surgery to remove a tumor in his brain. They live out of state and the death just happened on Dec.7th. Due to what happened to Dennis Quaid’s twins, this situation has come to the attention of alot of people. I don’t know if this had a connection to Zane’s death, but I am glad to be aware of it. I know that nurses are people too and are subject to mistakes, but they hold lives in their hands. I am praying for answers to why this boy had to die. No amount of money will bring back a loved one, but hospitals have to do all they can to prevent such unfortunate incidences. I hope there are no long term medical effects for Dennis’s children.
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Lauren says:
December 6, 2007 at 8:39 pm
I have been working on a pediatric oncology, hematology, bone marrow transplant inpatient unit as an RN for 5 years. I am not sure if you were referring to central lines, or peripheral lines when you mentioned they are to be flushed with saline only. That is not the standard of care for proper care of maintenance of a central line. Central lines go directly into the superior vena cava, and MUST be flushed with varying concentrations/doses of heparin, (depending upon the type of line, the size of the line, and the age of the patient)or they would clot off and need to be replaced. Replacement of central lines is performed under general anesthesia, and must be avoided at all cost. This is true of any patient with a cental line, including babies in the neonative intensive care unit, who weigh only grams. It is the standard of care that peripheral lines are commonly flushed with much lower doses of heparin, especially when they are very small bore, to avert clotting. This helps to avert the traumatic, painful process of re-inserting an IV catheter that could clot when not being used for infusion. All lines are first flushed with saline, and then “heplocked” with the appropriate heparin.
***Editor Note***
The lines I referred to in the article were peripheral lines, which are commonly referred to as Heparin-locks, or Saline-locks. If I had meant a central line, I would have used port-a-cath, central line, PICC, etc. You are incorrect in saying central lines are inserted using “general anesthesia.” Jugular, PICC (which is inserted in the ante-cubital), and subclavian vien central lines can all be inserted using local anethesia such as lidocaine. In the intensive care unit a patient is put into reverse trendelenburg to ensure a good blood flashback so the physician knows he/she is in the vien. A port-a-cath on the other hand, which is implanted, is inserted under general anesthesia, and is used for long term medical treatment of cancer patients most often. Using local anesthesia is preferred for everything except for a port-a-cath especially in pediatric and infants due to their sensitivity to all medications, especially someting as potent as anesthesia. Your hospital physicains may prefer to use general anesthesia for their pediatric cancer patients, however, they are putting those patients at an unnecessary risk.
Since central lines require completely different care, and are only inserted for long-term IV therapy, the nurse would not flush the line with normal saline, but would instead use Heparin. In all peripheral lines meant for short term care, and usually only last about 3 days, those lines should only be flushed with normal saline.
Thank you for reading HG Lauren, and special thanks to you for caring for those young children who need a caring caregiver the most.
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John Rankin says:
December 4, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Did not hear…are the Quaid’s seeking punitive damages? Seems seeking $50,000 in damages is appropriate to me. They can deal with the hospital on their own terms.
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Jill says:
December 4, 2007 at 3:58 pm
WTF?
Since when is the HOSPITAL not responsible?!
Well crap … I guess I better sue Tylenol since they look just like asprin.
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Yirmin Snipe says:
December 4, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Gee… does that mean since every pill dispensed in America gets put in the same brown-amber bottle that everyone should sue Walgreens when they take the wrong pill? Come on, this is insane. The person responsible was the nurse for not looking, but then she doesn’t have mega millions so why sue her… the next best target would be the hospital for keeping meds close together, but that hospital has so much trouble already you wouldn’t win mega million and actually collect… so lets go after the big pockets. I guess when your career is down in the dumps your only chance for a million dollar paycheck is with a lawsuit…. pathetic.
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