PICCs Broviacs and Clothing

[qaqueen]

What is the procedure in your unit regarding clothing covering PICCs and/or Broviacs? Any scholarly references would be appreciated.

Thanks:heartbeat

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

We allow them to wear clothes, there is not a medical reason not to. We have kids up to a year old with broviacs...they can't just lay around naked all the time It also keeps those bigger kids from pulling on them. We tell parents to bring in onesie or clothes that snap/open up the front. Some parents have even altered sleeves and pant legs by splitting them up the seams and putting velcro in. We just have to have easy access to the line.

[Jolie, BSN]

You might want to search for articles by Mary Kay Leick Rude (I think I spelled that right) of Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. She has published a number of research-based articles on central lines in neonates.

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

If a PICC is in an arm, we keep that arm out of shirts for our transport team to have better access.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

We leave the arm with the PICC in it exposed, but they can wear any clothing as long as there is easy access.

[PrudenceNurse]

No "evidence base", but we have just started leaving PICCs and Broviacs uncovered and not breaking the lines to put arms in sleeves. This is being done to try to decrease central line infections from too many accesses. Some of the babies have gotten cold from leaving insertion sites uncovered, so this is still a learning curve for us.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

We are NEVER to disconnect a central line infusion set once connected on a sterile field. The only time it gets disconnected is when you are dc'ing fluids, or you're changing them on a sterile field. BIG NO-NO here.

[dawnebeth]

We allow the babies with those lines to wear clothing--they aren't supposed to disconnect the line to put a sleeve through, but if the IV tubing can be snaked through or under the outfit, that's fine, and keeps the babies from pulling on them. Outfits that button or snap up the front are best and easiest with an IV, particularly a broviac or subclavian line.

Dawn