If a child with a functioning central venous line requires emergency drug therapy, what is the recommended approach?

If a child with a functioning central venous line requires emergency drug therapy, what is the recommended approach?

• A. Avoid using the central line if possible and establish peripheral IV access elsewhere.
• B. Always administer drugs through the central line.
• C. Remove the central line before giving drugs.
• D. Flush the line with heparin and inject through it.

Answer: (A)

In emergencies, get a route in place as quickly as possible, and use the fastest reliable IV access you can obtain. If a peripheral IV can be established rapidly, that route is preferred over using the central venous line. Central lines are valuable for long-term access, but they carry higher complexity and risks—infection, catheter occlusion, and the need for careful flushing protocols and compatibility considerations for each drug. If peripheral access is not readily obtainable, the central line can be used, but routinely flushing with saline (not relying on a heparin flush for routine emergency administration) is the safer approach.

In emergencies, get a route in place as quickly as possible, and use the fastest reliable IV access you can obtain. If a peripheral IV can be established rapidly, that route is preferred over using the central venous line. Central lines are valuable for long-term access, but they carry higher complexity and risks—infection, catheter occlusion, and the need for careful flushing protocols and compatibility considerations for each drug. If peripheral access is not readily obtainable, the central line can be used, but routinely flushing with saline (not relying on a heparin flush for routine emergency administration) is the safer approach.