has anyone been experiencing a blocked arterial transducer line. The connection from the arterial chamber to the transducer is sealed off, thus the arterial pressure readings constantly read 0, and are unreliable.
Posts: 69 | Location: keene,nh usa | Registered: 17 October 2001
<acuteRN>
Posted
I've seen nearly everything you can see wrong at one time or another with FMC-NA hemo lines. I've seen the transducer lines blocked, both arterial and venous. I've seen pump segments that were too small to allow for adequate blood flow. I've seen seperation of the cap on top of the art/ven chambers and the chamber itself. I've seen defective clamps. I've opened sets with no caps. Before they started connecting the saline line to the tubing, back when it was a separate line, it was often that the saline tube was left out of the package. I've been told to document the problem including the line's lot number. Sometimes it turns out to be a true manufacturing defect and entire lots have to be discarded. However, the problems are usually isolated to only one set of lines here and there. If you read on the package, you will notice "assembled in Mexico". I in no way mean to disrespect the Mexican people, but you get what you pay for when it comes to assembly line labor. These problems just go to remind us to check everything before connecting patients to the lines and machines that we've come to trust.
We, too have had the blocked transducer lines and heparin lines as well. In addition we find that the saline line "remembers" where a clamp was placed and doesn't always open when you need it to. Do keep up the doc. - especially if you have an adverse patient reaction because of the problem. Maybe Fres. will take the hint and improve things.
Posts: 51 | Location: Mt. Vernon, WA, USA | Registered: 14 December 1999