Complications | My DNP site

Caregiver Teaching Content (Guide for Nu

Central Line Complications

The most common central line complications are listed below. In addition to explaining each of them, it discusses how to educate caregivers on each complication.

Infection

The child with a central line is at risk for local infection and systemic infection. Signs and symptoms of local infection include skin inflammation, redness, or purulent drainage from the central line site (Firstenberg et al., 2015). Signs and symptoms of systemic infection may include fever, fatigue, and confusion. If these signs and symptoms are present, emphasize the importance of bringing the child to the emergency room immediately.

Thrombosis

A thrombosis is a blood clot that can develop in the patient's central line. Signs and symptoms of a thrombosis include redness, swelling, and pain at the site of the central line (Sridhar et al., 2020).

Bleeding

Bleeding at the site of the patient's central line is another potential complication. The child may have blood leaking from the line or a hematoma, which may present as bruising or swelling around the line. should note the amount of bleeding they see, and whether it is continuous or has stopped. If they notice profuse bleeding or if their child's dressing is soaked in blood, they should apply pressure to the dressing and call 911 immediately.

Occlusion

An occlusion can be caused by many factors, including a thrombus, kinked tubing, or even a clamped line. Signs of an occlusion include a line that is hard to flush or does not flush (Buckhart, 2022). Ensure that the caregiver understands the importance of not continuing to try to flush or push hard if an occlusion is present

Nurse Tip: Discuss these signs and symptoms with caregivers and use the teach-back method to ensure they understand. The teach-back method is discussed in the teaching strategies section.

Caregiver Response

In the case of these complications, the nurse should ensure the caregiver understands the next step. Nurses should educate caregivers to call the hospital operator and ask to speak with the on-call bone marrow transplant provider.