Flushing a PICC/CVC Line and Needle Free Connector Change (Bionector) Procedure

Equipment

• Tray or clean surface.
• Sterile dressing pack or sterile dressing towels.
• Detergent wipes/70% alcohol wipes to clean the tray or the surface.
• Sterile chlorhexidine 2% in alcohol 70% solution or swab (e.g Clinell).
• Sterile gloves.
• 1 x 10ML syringe.
• 10 mls 0.9% Sterile Sodium Chloride.
• Green or filter strow to draw up Sodium Chloride.
• End connector if required (need changing weekly).
• Sharps bin.
• Hand gel.
• Green curos caps if necessary.

Procedure

• Social handwash with liquid soap.
• Collect the equipment needed and clean the assigned surface with a detergent wipe and dry with a paper towel or allow to dry. Wipe the surface again with a sanicloth wipe and allow to dry.
• Perform a 6 stage handwash with liquid soap.
• Open the sterile towel and unfold touching the edges only and place on the surface to create a sterile field.
• Check the contents of the sodium chloride and clean the vile with an alcohol wipe before placing on the sterile field. Open the syringe and needle and place on the surface.
• Open the sterile gloves and place on the surface away from the sodium chloride.
• Open the second dressing towel and place under the client’s line.
• Apply alcohol gel to hands and allow to dry before putting on sterile gloves.
• Remove the needle free connector (Bionector) if due for change, using a sanicloth,and clean the end of PICC/CVC line for at least 30 sec, moving upwards towards the clamp.
• Attached the new connector (bionector) to the PICC/CVC line.
• If only flushing is performed, clean the needle free connecter for at least 30 seconds.
• Attach the syringe to the bionector and unclamp the line, and flush with a “push-pause” motion until the last ml and then clamp the line while flushing the last ml.
• Attach the green curos cap if applicable.
• Remove gloves and wash hands and clear area.

The ANTT key parts to consider when flushing a PICC/CVC line.

The PICC needs to be flushed once weekly with 10mls of 0.9% Sodium Chloride to maintain patency when not in use or after any infusion or bolus injection. There is no need to withdraw blood into the syringe prior to a routine flush with saline.

As with all Central lines, 10 mls is the minimum size syringe to be used to flush a PICC line. Using smaller syringe size can result in excessive pressure being exerted which could result in a damaged catheter.

Revised:  January 2024

Version: 2 (Review)

Source:  Expert Care Manager