Q: What is the FLUSH test after femoral central line insertion?



Answer:  FLUSH is an abbreviation of "Flush the Line and Ultra-Sound the Heart".

It can be used after femoral central venous line insertion to confirm intravenous placement. It can be particularly helpful in code situation where it becomes hard to distinguish between arterial and venous blood due to absence of pulsatility and absence of difference of color. 

In the test, the distal port of central venous catheter is flushed with agitated saline and the heart is visualized at a subxiphoid location via bedside ultrasound or echo machine.


Reference:

Horowitz R, Gossett JG, Bailitz J, Wax D, Pierce MC. The FLUSH study--flush the line and ultrasound the heart: ultrasonographic confirmation of central femoral venous line placement. Ann Emerg Med. 2014 Jun. 63(6):678-83.