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4 posts / 0 new

Thu, 06/18/2009 - 14:37

mcphed

Cleansing with an anticeptic solution prior to line removal

We have always cleansed the insertion site prior to removal of a CVC or A-line.Â Â Â Is there literature to support this or is it because we have always done it this way.

We would D/C a PIV from the anticubital without first washing the site with CHG so why cleanse prior to PICC removal.Â Â Â After all the line is coming out-not in. Can we just pull it out?Â Â Patient do it frequently without cleaning first.

Thanks,

Thu, 06/18/2009 - 16:12

lynncrni

The only time I have ever

The only time I have ever cleaned the skin before removal was if I was going to take a culture of the catheter tip. Expressed and drainage, then cleaned with alcohol to remove any drainage, then removed the cath. I don't know of any reason why you would need to clean before removal if a cath culture is not needed.

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI

www.hadawayassociates.com

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI

Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.

PO Box 10

Milner, GA 30257

Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com

Office Phone 770-358-7861

Thu, 06/18/2009 - 21:29

blodahl

I've always cleaned the site

I've always cleaned the site for this reason: most CVC's (except PICCs) are placed by physicians and have sutures at the site; at our hospital A-Lines are also placed by Physicians or their PA's and always have sutures. Removing sutures, usually means pulling some of the surface material through intradermal tissue to remove it completely; also removing the catheter opens the tract which may have closed up (granulated) depending on length of time the line has been insitu. Many of the patients are immunecompromised. Theoretically, microbes could travel into these wounds. It is standard to apply antibacterial ointment to the site and cover w/ an occlusive dressing upon line removal - it seems odd to me not to cleanse a site that is going to have sutures removed and to possibly trap microbes under a warm, dark, occlusive dressing for 24-48 hours, but perhaps the ointment is protection enough - it just goes against what my brain is telling me. I don't remember specific literature that led me to this practice, but I've been practicing nursing for nearly 40 years and didn't fabricate the practice on my own !

Barbara

Fri, 06/19/2009 - 08:33

(Reply to #3) #4