Volumes of Selected Central Venous Catheters

Implications for Heparin Flush Use

Abstract

Customer inquiries and a brief review of the literature indicate that there is a lack of knowledge regarding volumes of central venous catheters. In order to provide practitioners with information concerning the amount of heparin solution necessary to fill such catheters, the volumes of four commonly used central venous catheters and one extension set were measured in the laboratory. Results indicate that the catheters evaluated have a smaller volume than apparently has been assumed. An awareness of these volumes on the part of the practitioner may lead to a reduction in the amount of flush solution injected into the catheter and, ultimately, a reduction in the amount of excess heparin that enters the circulation of catheterized patients.