ETHANOL LOCK (IV)

Pharmacy specific orders / instructions always supersede the Agency guidance provided below. If in doubt, do not guess, call our office, or tag @TeamHelp-CareCoordination and ask for Clinical Support.

ALWAYS make sure you have everything you need to complete infusion before you begin

ALWAYS confirm your medication dose against the medication label and orders

ALWAYS reach out to us first (not the Pharmacy) with any questions

NEVER tell a Pt you have not given a particular medication before

NOTE: Patients/Caregivers are usually taught.

Obtain a clear/clean space to prepare
Be sure all the necessary supplies are available to complete the visit from beginning to end
- You will need alcohol, normal saline flushes, ethanol flush, and 10 ml empty syringe
Prepare the NS syringe.

NOTE: If more than one lumen on the catheter, you will need 1 dose of ethanol for each lumen.

Take baseline vitals and document basic assessment.
Clamp catheter
Scrub the hub with alcohol
Flush line with ordered amount of NS and clamp as infusing last of the NS.
Scrub the hub with alcohol.
Unclamp and infuse ordered amount of ethanol flush, clamp line as infusing last of the ethanol flush. Remove syringe
Allow ethanol lock to dwell for prescribed amount of time.
After prescribed amount of time, scrub the hub, open clamp, and with empty syringe, pull back 2 ml of fluid.
- This 2 ml will be a mixture of ethanol and blood. Discard this syringe.
- Clamp the line.
Scrub the hub and connect new NS syringe, unclamp and push ordered amount of NS into line. Clamp line.
- Ethanol and heparin should not be used together. You must flush with saline between each medicine.
Clean and dispose of used supplies.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Link to video: Ethanol Lock Video