When pressure dampening due to a blood clot occurs, what should the therapist do?

When pressure dampening due to a blood clot occurs, aspirating, flushing the catheter, and rotating it are appropriate steps to address the issue. This approach is often the first line of action when dealing with potential clotting problems in intravenous lines.

Aspirating allows the therapist to check for blood return and assess the status of the catheter’s patency. Flushing the catheter provides a mechanism to clear any obstruction caused by a clot, maintaining the line's functionality. Rotating the catheter can help alleviate any potential kinks or blockages that may be contributing to the pressure dampening. Together, these actions work to restore normal function to the IV line without immediately resorting to more invasive measures.

Other options, such as changing the catheter or increasing the IV flow rate, may be necessary in certain circumstances, but they are not the first response in light of pressure dampening specifically linked to a clot. Administering anticoagulants is an intervention that would be more appropriate in cases of significant thromboembolic disorders and is not a routine response for a catheter issue.