Central Venous Catheter (CVC) Removal Distress Syndrome

Are you remvoing a central venous catheter from a patient?

• was the patient lying flat or in the Trendelenburg position?

• was the patient well-hydrated?

• did the patient hold the breath or perform a Valsalva maneuver?

• was the catheter or exit wound occluded with fingertip?

• was the exit site kept occluded by application of antibiotic ointment or a suture?

• was an airtight dressing placed over the exit wound for 12 hours?

• was the patient kept lying still for 30 minutes after the catheter was out?

• had difficulty breathing?

• become apprehensive or confused?

• become agitated?

• heard a sucking sound?

• developed a new systolic murmur with a churning sound?

• collapsed or had a decrease in consciousness?