Bedside tip - Changing cordis to tripple lumen
This is a regular practice to change cordis (large bore or rapid infuser catheter) to (small bore) central line "over wire", once need for cordis itself is over (like removal of pulmonary artery catheter or need of rapid fluid infusion).
One frequent issue is inability to advance wire in cordis. As cordis is large bore, its 'hub' (see picture below) tends to bend at skin or inside sucutaneous tissue, which prevents advancement of wire. Trick is to retract the cordis about 1-2 cm out of skin, make it straight and advance wire.
Proceed further with usual practice of changing catheters over wire.
Previous related pearls:
Peres Nomogram to calculate required length of central line
Bedside tip - central line removal
Suture at central venous catheter site - a risk ?
Appropriate length of guide wire to advance
