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Discussion

Showering with a central line

Hello all!

I am trying to get protocols from other accredited Children's Hospitals regarding allowing showering/bathing with a central line. I work at UVA, and believe it or not, they are trying to tell us that our patient's with Central lines and/or Foleys can no longer shower, but only have the Chlorhexidine baths. I would really like to put this to rest quickly, because I'm pretty sure our patient's won't take to kindly to us telling them that they can't shower. What do you all think??

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    thread moved for best response

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    This is ridiculous. Some of our patients have central lines for years (ie oncology)! I see no reason, with an occlusive dressing, why a shower cannot be had. Furthermore, chlorehexidine long term would dry out the skin - it simply couldn't be that good!

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    We allow patients to shower but it is our policy that they have to 'bathe' with the chlorehexidine wipes once daily.

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    We shower our kids with CVLs! We use whatever we can to keep it dry, my favourite is a soaker pad or diaper, with a biohazard bag taped on with waterproof tape. It works pretty well, if any water sneaks it it's usually soaked up by the pad! I've never even heard of these chlorhexidine wipes.

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    We usually only use the chlorhexadine wipes for MRSA decolonization. We shower our kids with ventricular assist devices - with the Berlin hearts we put them in a bag and tape it closed around the cannulae. Then when they come out they have a complete dressing change done according to our protocol. For tunneled CVLs, they can go in a bag too, but what works best is an ostomy appliance! Only, of course, if the line is locked off for the shower. Waterproof tape... I miss the days of the wonderful pink tape that held through a hurricane and peeled off easily with a little alcohol swabbing. We aren't allowed to use it any more. Something about latex in it blahblahblah. I found a Canadian source for latex free pink waterproof tape that holds like the old stuff but the samples I gave to the manager disappeared... and we're still using the clear stuff that stretches all out of shape and has to be cut with scissors... Hate it.

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    There are products that are specifically made and FDA approved for this purpose. We started using "Aqua Guard" products shortly before I left the hospital. Before that, we basically covered them with lab bags that we taped on. I never thought of using an ostomy bag before but I can see how that would be useful.

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