Sugesstions on how to anchor UVC/UAC lines

Specialties NICU

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I need some suggestions on how to secure UVC/ UAC lines for those VLBW babies. My unit is currently using transpore tapes to form a goal post, but they are constantly getting wet from the humidity inside the incubator and thus the goal post is not able to hold them in place or they are either too heavy and always fall towards the groin area. Does anyone do something differently? Thanks

Specializes in Newborn ICU, Trauma ICU, Burn ICU, Peds.

We get many babies in from other hospitals with opsite on their lines and we immediately take it off. We use the Umbi-E bridge product, and I must say I now love it. I have never had one fall off yet and we use the Omnibed with 80% humidity regularly.

Why do we remove the opsite? You wouldn't believe what grows under there with oozing belly buttons! Couple that with humidity, and it's a bacterial playground. I also noted that sometimes there are red marks left on the skin for quite a while after from the pressure of the line against the belly.

We do not suture lines, either. I like it when babies come with sutures, but our Doc's find it unnecessary. I think part of it has to do with risk of line puncture when suturing or cliping the stitch.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

Oh, I hate when people opsite ofver the belly button...ewwww! We anchor above it. Wow...I'd be nervous without sutures in those lines....we always suture ours and in 20years I have never seen one line messed up.

We are trying to get the umbi-bridges, but of course they are "expensive" :uhoh3:

How to you anchor it to the anterior fontenel? We always use the site over the liver since that is your core temp place.

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we dont place the opsite directly over the cord either...that is totally gross!! We also suture our lines....it def makes me feel better knowing there is more thn my tape holding it in!! Oh, we loop it too.

Can you give me more info on the umbi-bridge? I tried googling it and many variations, but cant find anything abiut it. I am interested in hearing what they lookm like.

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Specializes in Newborn ICU, Trauma ICU, Burn ICU, Peds.
we dont place the opsite directly over the cord either...that is totally gross!! We also suture our lines....it def makes me feel better knowing there is more thn my tape holding it in!! Oh, we loop it too.

Can you give me more info on the umbi-bridge? I tried googling it and many variations, but cant find anything abiut it. I am interested in hearing what they lookm like.

I haven't seen opsite over the cord, either, but the cord does ooze under the opsite, as fluid follows a path, and that path would be the catheter.

UMB-E info: http://www.kendall-ltp.com/neonumbe.htm

It is a Kendall Argyle UMB-E Umbilical Cath Anchor and I'll tell you what, those suckers do not move.

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We get many babies in from other hospitals with opsite on their lines and we immediately take it off. We use the Umbi-E bridge product, and I must say I now love it. I have never had one fall off yet and we use the Omnibed with 80% humidity regularly.

Why do we remove the opsite? You wouldn't believe what grows under there with oozing belly buttons! Couple that with humidity, and it's a bacterial playground. I also noted that sometimes there are red marks left on the skin for quite a while after from the pressure of the line against the belly.

We do not suture lines, either. I like it when babies come with sutures, but our Doc's find it unnecessary. I think part of it has to do with risk of line puncture when suturing or cliping the stitch.

Goal post type taping has been shown to have more complications: pt removal and vessel occlusion. Opsite over the umbilical cord and placing the line under the opsite is not reccomended. The opsite should be above or below the cord, and the line should be taped over the opsite/tagaderm.

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Goal post type taping has been shown to have more complications: pt removal and vessel occlusion. Opsite over the umbilical cord and placing the line under the opsite is not reccomended. The opsite should be above or below the cord, and the line should be taped over the opsite/tagaderm.

When you say goal posting, is that including the goal posting of the UMB-E device, or the traditional taping methed? Also, what kind of tape do you use to tape the catheter to the opsite? I have to say, when people use tape over a opsite on a picc line it is absolutely impossible to remove, so I cn see why you suggest taping over the opsite. Do you find it difficult to get the tape to syick to the catheter itself?

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BBG, we use the hydrocolloid gold hearts and put a hat on.

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Specializes in NICU.

We use the Neotech bridges. They are so nice. They don't really come off with humidity (but they do get kind of "gummy"). They are a lot kinder to preemie skin than tape too.

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