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Warning-sign checks

Midline venous catheters - infants: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, collapse or unresponsiveness, blue or grey coloring, or bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact the healthcare team promptly if the dressing becomes wet, loose, dirty, or lifted, or if the catheter appears to have moved.

    Also report repeated pump alarms, trouble flushing, leaking, or blood visible in the tubing when it is not expected.

    Ask for urgent assessment if your infant has swelling, increasing redness, warmth, a color change, blistering, drainage, or apparent pain around the catheter or limb.

    A new fever, unusual temperature instability, marked sleepiness, or poor feeding also needs prompt medical advice.

    Stop using the line and alert the team immediately if it breaks, comes out, leaks during an infusion, or if fluid will not pass easily.

    Do not push it back in or force a flush.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Midline venous catheters - infants. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.