Protecting Central Lines

[PAKidsNurse]

Dear Colleagues,

I have a young (7 year old) slightly developmentally challenged girl on my unit. Physicians feel she will need a PICC line and my fear is she will remove it if it is not well protected. Can anyone offer some suggestions for protecting the line in a patient like this? She picks at everything including her IV's. What is the best method for protecting this line? Does anyone know what precentage of PICC lines (or central lines in general) are pulled out by patients?

Thank you all for your help!!

[southernbeegirl, BSN, RN]

I work with geriatric patients. We have quite a few that pick at their lines. Some things I have found that work are to cover the entire area with tegaderm, leaving only the ends of the lumens out for use and wrap the entire arm in kerlex. just do it loosely over the site itself so you can push the gauze back to see the site. this usually helps because it takes them a long time to pick off the kerlex and we usually find them before they pull it out.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

First it needs a stat-lock. Those things are amazing. And put her in long sleeves. Out of sight, out of mind.:)

[PAKidsNurse]

I never heard of a "stat lock" what company makes them?

Thanks again.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Not sure, just know we have them at work for PICCs and PIVs. They really do work quite well. Maybe a IV nurse will come along that knows the manufacturer.

[edisongirl25]

Not sure, just know we have them at work for PICCs and PIVs. They really do work quite well. Maybe a IV nurse will come along that knows the manufacturer.

We have those, they are nice. We also have them for foley's at our hospital.

[TXstudentRN]

I totally agree with the statlock, they are GREAT (but as a warning, very expensive - at least $20 each I've heard, which is why many hospitals don't carry them) - here's a link: http://www.statlock.com. From personal experience, there is NO comparison regarding them versus sutures. I have found there to be some discrepancy on how often to change them though - some say weekly, others say don't mess with it unless you need to. I highly recommend using the skin prep and using adhesive remover to get them off - they STICK! Which makes them great.

I like the idea of kerlix or coband after covering the entire site and lines with tegaderm - look into opsite if she has sensitive skin.

And then longsleeves over that, preferably the ones with elastic at the wrists, and hopefully she'll be set! Though even if she does get into, as someone else said, hopefully you'll be able to catch it before she gets under the tegaderm.

Good luck!

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Stat locs or ane other CVC engineered securement device needs to be changed every seven days or if compromised. Bacteria and yeast can grow under,around them. The manufacteror also states that they are to be changed at least every seven days.