What could happen if a line is flushed instead of aspirated?

Flushing a line instead of aspirating can lead to serious consequences, particularly if medications, such as heparin, are inadvertently bolused into the patient. Aspirating is a critical step to ensure that the line is patent and that no blood or clots are present that could block the medication delivery. When a line is flushed without proper aspiration, there is a risk of delivering a concentrated dose of medication directly into the bloodstream, which can lead to adverse effects, including over-anticoagulation or other complications related to the specific medication being administered.

In certain situations, if a line that contains a medication is not properly aspirated, the contents of the line could include residual medications that were not intended for the current treatment, posing additional risks to patient safety. This underscores the importance of following proper protocols to ensure appropriate medication delivery and to avoid potential harm to the patient.