Question

While troubleshooting a catheter with poor arterial flow, the last resort to improve the flow is to reverse the arterial and venous bloodlines. The major drawback in doing this is that there is increased chance of?

1) Infection
2) Thrombosis
3) Hemorrhage
4) Hypertension

Answer 1

Reversing the arterial and venous bloodlines can lead to an increased chance of thrombosis, as this changes the flow and pressure conditions in the veins.

Step-by-step explanation:

When troubleshooting a catheter with poor arterial flow, the last resort of reversing the arterial and venous bloodlines can lead to an increased chance of thrombosis. The arterial system operates at a higher pressure compared to the venous system, and reversing the bloodlines can lead to complications. Increased pressure in the veins, where the flow is normally low, can cause a significant increase in flow that might lead to clot formation. Venous catheters are also common sites for bloodstream infections, but in this case, thrombosis is a more immediate concern due to the sudden change in pressure and flow characteristics.