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CURRENT LEARNING IN PALLIATIVE CARE

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Procedures in palliative care 4: Spinal analgesia:
problems with the line

Advanced Level

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 ACTIVITIES

Activity 2

Her line is running well again, but next time you visit she seems unwell and sleepy.  As you touch her hand, she seems pyrexial and a quick axillary temperature check shows a temperature of 38.5șC. What should you check?  Could the line be the cause? 

Are these statements true or false?

Statement

 True False
1 Bupivacaine is an antimicrobial (i.e. it reduces growth of bacteria and fungi).

2 The likeliest source of infection is from the injected analgesic mixture.

3 The exit site of the spinal line should be uncovered only on rare occasions.

4 You should never use a spinal line in the presence of existing infection.

5 Bacterial filters can be left in use for up to one month.

6 A urine test would be helpful in this situation.

You can print out this page and/or compare your thoughts with the information in Infection and spinal lines.

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