Label used to improve clinical practice and improve patient safety
Invasive monitoring is a cornerstone for intensive care. The arterial cannula is one of the most common monitoring tools available in the intensive care unit, however as an invasive device it has the potential to cause complications. The implications of mismanagement are far reaching and present greater severity of damage and higher clinical risk relative to central lines.
Slow infusion or Sodium chloride are currently used to keep the arterial line open (more commonly known as a flush line) and patients may be at risk of harm if the wrong infusion fluid is used.
The NPSA is aware of 2 deaths and 82 other incidents up to June 2008 where the wrong kind of infusion has been attached to the arterial line (NPSA RRR006).
Contributing risk factors include look-alike labelling and packaging of intravenous infusion bags, inadequate checking before attachment and the need to cover the infusion with a pressure bag. With this labelling process, two members of staff are required to check, date and sign for the infusion. These labels will aid Trusts in improving clinical practice and reduce the risk of infusing the wrong fluid.
Additional information
There are 500 labels to one pack.
