Comprehensive Nursing Pharmacology Q 201
Some central venous access devices (CVAD) have more than one lumen. These multi-lumen catheters:
A. Have an increased risk of infiltration.
B. Only work a short time because the small-bore clots off.
C. Are beneficial to patient care but are prohibitively expensive.
D. Allow different medications or solutions to be administered simultaneously.
Correct Answer: D. Allow different medications or solutions to be administered simultaneously.
A multi-lumen catheter contains separate ports and means to administer agents. An agent infusing in one port cannot mix with an agent infusing into another port. Thus, agents that would be incompatible if given together can be given in separate ports simultaneously.
Option A: Multi-lumen CVADs are available and these can be from dual lumen PICCs and tunneled catheters to triple, quad, and quin lumen Central venous catheters (CVCs). The advantage of a multi-lumen catheter is the ability to infuse incompatible mediations and solutions at the same time. The catheters are designed to ensure that there is no mixing of medications either within the catheter OR once they exit from the tip (located in the superior vena cava or right atrium) into the rapid blood flow.
Option B: When single lumen catheters are in situ and the patient requires multiple therapies, consideration should be given to either inserting a peripheral device or an additional CVAD. Guidance as to which medications can be given concurrently should be sought from the pharmacy and the type of medication prioritized e.g. parenteral nutrition or other medications that must be given centrally.
Option C: The cost of the device and its maintenance forms a crucial economic factor in the long-term management of cancer, especially in developing countries. The average cost of insertion and maintenance of chemo ports was nearly six times that incurred for CVC/PICC and was statistically significant.