Complication Management Flashcards
7 cards from real VABC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Complication Management flashcards as text
Which of the following dressing changes is recommended by the CDC for central venous catheters to reduce CRBSI risk?
Answer: Gauze dressing changed every 48 hours or transparent semi-permeable dressing changed every 7 days
CDC guidelines recommend gauze dressings every 48 hours or transparent semi-permeable dressings every 7 days (or sooner if soiled, loosened, or visibly contaminated).
A patient's implanted port cannot be de-accessed because the needle is stuck in the septum. What is the most appropriate initial step?
Answer: Rotate the needle 90 degrees while applying gentle outward pressure
A gentle rotational motion while applying steady outward traction can release a huber needle stuck in the port septum without damaging the septum or surrounding tissue.
In the setting of CRBSI with Staphylococcus aureus, what is the minimum recommended duration of systemic antibiotic therapy when the catheter is removed?
Answer: 14 days
S. aureus CRBSI requires at least 14 days of systemic antibiotics after catheter removal to reduce the risk of endocarditis and metastatic infection.
A patient with a dialysis catheter develops recurrent CRBSI despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. Which preventive strategy is recommended to preserve catheter salvage?
Answer: Antibiotic lock therapy between dialysis sessions
Antibiotic lock therapy, instilling high-concentration antibiotics into the catheter lumen between sessions, is evidence-based for preventing recurrent CRBSI in dialysis catheters.
What is the first step when a vascular access nurse suspects a catheter-associated deep vein thrombosis (CA-DVT)?
Answer: Order compression ultrasound of the affected extremity
Compression ultrasound is the diagnostic gold standard for upper or lower extremity DVT and should be obtained before treatment decisions are made.
A patient receiving continuous IV infusion through a PICC has an infusion pump alarm indicating high resistance. The PICC flushes with difficulty but no swelling is noted. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: Positional occlusion or kinking of the catheter
Positional occlusion (catheter kinking with arm position changes) is a common cause of intermittent high resistance alarms without extravasation signs.
Which anatomical landmark determines correct PICC tip placement in adult patients per AVA and INS guidelines?
Answer: Junction of the superior vena cava and right atrium (cavoatrial junction)
The cavoatrial junction (CAJ) is the recommended optimal tip position per AVA and INS, ensuring high-flow dilution of infusates and reducing thrombosis risk.