Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Central Venous Access Device Dressing Change
Published on: April 30, 2023
Angioedema Risk Associated With Central Vascular Access Device Declotting
1Kaiser Foundation Hospital Sacramento, Sacramento, California. Patricia Zrelak, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, SCRN, CNRN, is a clinical practice consultant at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Sacramento, California. She holds a PhD in epidemiology from the University of California Davis. Her expertise includes patient safety, evidence-based care, and neuroscience.
Abstract:
Little is known about the risk of angioedema with low-dose alteplase administration in the treatment of thrombotically occluded central vascular access devices (CVADs). To identify potential cases, the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database was searched. Between March 15, 2001, and August 15, 2018, there were 568 low-dose alteplase reports. Of these, 11 appear to be related to complications associated with a device or device occlusion that resulted in an angioedema-like reaction. This suggests that angioedema is a potential complication of alteplase when used for declotting CVADs-a complication that nurses should know how to recognize and treat.
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