Do you encounter a lot of lines not being sutured? Central, dialysis, alines?
I did a dressing change yesterday on a trialysis that had not one suture and no securement device. No apparent reason either. I was pretty mad!
Curious what others encounter and do you have policies?
I work at a large teaching hospital. So naturally tons of residents, variable skills and techniques. I help guide them and offer advice, they are always appreciative of the help.
I just cannot believe this trialysis was left unsecured. Even if suturing was not an option because of a bleed risk, etc - could have at least used a sterile IV catheter securement device.
I work in the OR. Anesthesia puts in a fair number of lines in patients I care for. As a general rule, central lines are sutured in place. Arterial lines are not generally sutured (unless an extremely difficult art line or pediatric patient).
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
I will agree with some other posters that stat locks can be a pain to unsnap when you are doing a dressing change, they are nail breakers for sure!! I usually just put one finger over the site to hold the line in place and prevent migration.
You Really need to look into using the Secure-A-Cath.Is is placed at the time of insertion with two very small pieces of nitinol anchors that secure it to the skin...great product...easy to clean the site with 360 degree cleaning capability...easy to place...education is needed to learn to remove them though. It is easy once you do it and as long as people don't yank on them to dc them.
I hate those things. Everyone who I know who's ever had to pull a PICC from a child with one of those in hates them.
Dranger
1,871 Posts
I don't even like stat-locks, when you try to change a dressing it is too easy for the line to get dislodge especially if the stat-lock is saturated.
Anesthesia sutures the best CVCs so it doesn't pull on the dressing when lines are attached, ED not so much...