Axillary IABP

Published

Hi all. We have recently started to do a lot of axillary iabps. We are having so difficulty in figuring out a good way to secure them without having them kink. If any of your facilities use this, can you share how you secure them?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Interventional Radiology.

Are you referring the secure to the patient? We use 12 inch Tegaderms and of course the MD sutures to the leg.Then the helium line should run parallel to the patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
Are you referring the secure to the patient? We use 12 inch Tegaderms and of course the MD sutures to the leg.Then the helium line should run parallel to the patient.

I think you might have missed that the question was about axillary IABP access.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

We've done maybe a couple of axillary access IABP and securement is difficult, particularly since the main purpose of axillary access is that it allows the patient to ambulate, which requires very good securement compared to a bedbound patient. We've secured it the lateral chest wall, allowing for a gentle curve coming out of the access site. We've been using foley catheter securement devices for both points of access of IABPs past the insertion site dressing and sutures.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion