Little air bubble in venous line

[malibu1]

Using Nxstage cycler with chest catheter, we see more often than not a little air bubble in the end of the venous line just before i hook it up to Mr Malibu's venous stem on the catheter to start dialysis.  It alarmed me the first few times but we have not had any issues from it.  In training it was a big deal about air in the lines, I gather that this small amount doesn't negatively affect anything.

[Rerun]

I'm alive to tell about it.  I've seen small bubbles or a bubble go in and my heart stops for a second from fear but I seem to be fine.  I still don't like it happening.   

[obsidianom]

Using Nxstage cycler with chest catheter, we see more often than not a little air bubble in the end of the venous line just before i hook it up to Mr Malibu's venous stem on the catheter to start dialysis.  It alarmed me the first few times but we have not had any issues from it.  In training it was a big deal about air in the lines, I gather that this small amount doesn't negatively affect anything.

We get them all the time. I used to try to remove them but it became fruitless. It is just something that will occur . It doesnt seem to be a problem. We have had it for 2.5 years with no problems.

[malibu1]

Thanks for your input 

[*kana*]

I know this is an old post but this might be helpful to those seeking info on air in the line.  When I worked as an Ultrasound tech we'd do aggitated bubble studies on patients suspected of having an abnormal hole in their heart.  We'd take a 10cc syringe and fill it with 8cc of fluid and 2cc of air.  We'd aggitate it and inject into a vein.  If we weren't convinced of what we saw we'd do it again.  I guess what I am saying is I've seen a LOT of air go into someone and they were fine.  Not saying I'd allow an entire syringe of air or tubing of air but those teeny tiny bubble in the tubing are so small and harmless.  Dont worry one bit about them in the venous line and the ones in the arterial line go out the waste line. 

[noahvale]

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[cassandra]

An easy way to get air out of the venous line is to sqeeze the venous line before screwing the V line while it is in your needle- line. So 'all' air is out of all the screwy bits of plastic of both lines, and > close nicely

     

[Zog]

You need enough air to fill up a chamber in your heart to cause real problems, however we hate all air bubble in lines at our house no matter how small.  If they are in the machine they can lead to little clots.  We always pinch the lines before connecting and when we connect them there is a drop of blood touching a drop of saline with a tiny tiny tiny amount spilling over as the lines are screwed together.  We don't unpinch until after every thing is attached.  It isn't something we think about either.  It is a little flick of the wrist kind of thing when connecting.  It doesn't take .1 seconds to do.  Since about 2008, we never ever ever have to use a syringe to remove air from the filter cap.  I have several boxes of unopened 30 ml syringes because people think this isn't possible.  It is possible to hook up the machine and not get any air bubbles accumulating in the filter cap during treatment.