Test yourself
Flush test: saline swirl confirms the line
4 questions. Pick an answer to see whether you are right and why. Your score appears at the end.
Question 1What should a true intraluminal flush look like on the screen?
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Answer d. Saline with tiny bubbles scatters sound, so it looks like a bright swirl. Seeing it stay within the lumen and move along the vein shows the tip is in the vein.
Question 2You flush and see fluid collect in the soft tissue while the vein stays empty. What do you do?
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Answer b. Fluid in the tissue means the cannula is not in the vein. Using it risks infiltration of whatever you infuse.
Question 3Where do you place the probe for a flush test?
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Answer a. You want the lumen and the catheter tip in view, so the swirl can be seen entering the vein.
Question 4Why confirm the vessel is a vein before you rely on a flush swirl?
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Answer a. A vein collapses with gentle pressure and an artery does not. Confirm the vessel first.
Practise it with us
Four or five delegates per instructor, FAMUS-accredited faculty and long, supervised time on the probe.
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