How to Flush Your Central Venous Catheter (CVC)

This video will show you how to flush your central venous catheter, your CVC.

Your healthcare provider will tell you if you need to flush your CVC and when you should flush it. Follow their instructions.

Before you get started, gather your supplies. For each lumen of your CVC, you'll need one 10-milliliter pre-filled normal saline syringe, one alcohol pad, and one disinfection cap. You'll also need a pair of non-sterile gloves.

You may also need paper tape to secure your CVC once you're done. Follow your care team's instructions.

First, clean your hands. If you're washing your hands with soap and water, wet your hands, apply soap, rub them together well for 15 to 20 seconds, and rinse. Dry your hands with a paper towel and use that same towel to turn the faucet off.

If you're using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, be sure to cover your hands with it, rubbing them together until they're dry. Next, put on the gloves.

Pick up the pre-filled syringe. Release the air bubbles by pointing the syringe up and gently tapping the side. Loosen, but don't take off the cap. Press the plunger on the syringe until the air is pushed out. Then, tighten the cap.

Next, pick up one lumen and unclamp it. If it has a disinfection cap, take the cap off.

Scrub the end of the needleless connector with an alcohol pad for 15 seconds. Then, let it dry for 15 seconds.

Take the cap off the syringe and throw it away. Make sure nothing touches the clean end of the needleless connector while you're doing this.

Push the syringe into the needleless connector and twist it clockwise until the connection feels secure.

Use 10 milliliters of saline to flush the catheter. Inject one milliliter of saline into the catheter at a time. Pause a little between each injection.

If you can't inject the saline, stop and check to make sure the lumen isn't twisted, blocked, or clamped. Then try again.

If you still can't inject the saline, don't push harder. Remove the syringe, re-clamp the lumen, and call your healthcare provider.

Once the syringe is empty, re-clamp the lumen. Untwist the syringe from the needleless connector. Throw it away.

Put a disinfection cap on the end of the needleless connector. Then check to make sure the clamp is closed.

Repeat these steps for each lumen.

Once you've flushed all the lumens, secure your catheter so it's comfortable and won't be pulled. Your healthcare team will show you how.

Then, throw away your gloves and wash your hands.

You or your caregiver should call your healthcare provider right away if you have any redness, swelling, or drainage around the exit site of your catheter; have a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38 degrees Celsius, or higher; or have chills.

You should also call if you can't flush your catheter, your needleless connector falls off, your catheter is broken or leaking, your dressing is damaged, dirty, wet, or peeling off, or if you have any questions.

If you're a patient at MSK and need to reach a provider after 5 p.m., during the weekend, or on a holiday, call 212-639-2000.

You can also visit msk.org/pe to search for educational resources, videos, and online programs.